Publications

• The influence of soil temperature on the nesting cycle of the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum Weissel, N.; Mitesser, O.; Liebig, J.; Poethke, H.; Strohm, E. in Insectes Sociaux (2006). 53 390–398(9).
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  @article{Weissel:December2006:0020-1812:390, abstract = {The physiology and behavior of ectothermic organisms is strongly influenced by temperature. For ground nesting species like the primitively eusocial halictid bee, Lasioglossum malachurum, soil temperature might influence the life cycle as well as the complexity of the social group since the number of broods that can be fitted into the flight season might increase with increasing temperature. Our study populationof L. malachurum at Wuerzburg exhibits a remarkable variability with respect to the number of broods and the pattern of sexual production. Broods are separated by activity pauses during which the larvae develop. In this study we investigate the influence of soil temperature on the pattern of nesting activity (duration of broods and pauses) and on the number of broods in L. malachurum. We observed a total of 1138 nests in 13 aggregations near Wuerzburg. As expected, soil temperature shortened the duration of the pauses, resulting in an overall shortening of the nesting cycle. This is most probably due to a physiological effect of soil temperature on the development of the larvae. With regard to the nesting strategies, we hypothesized that a shortening of the nesting cycle within the limited flight season should enhance the success of a strategy with more worker broods. In fact, patches with higher soil temperature showed more broods. However, this effect was rather weak, suggesting that other factors might have a stronger impact on the variability in nesting strategy within our study population of L. malachurum.}, author = {Weissel, N. and Mitesser, O. and Liebig, J. and Poethke, H. and Strohm, E.}, journal = {Insectes Sociaux}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = {390-398(9)}, title = {The influence of soil temperature on the nesting cycle of the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum}, volume = 53, year = {December 2006} }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Weissel:December2006:0020-1812:390 %A Weissel, N. %A Mitesser, O. %A Liebig, J. %A Poethke, H. %A Strohm, E. %D December 2006 %J Insectes Sociaux %P 390-398(9) %R doi:10.1007/s00040-005-0884-7 %T The influence of soil temperature on the nesting cycle of the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum %U http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/40/2006/00000053/00000004/00000884 %V 53 %X The physiology and behavior of ectothermic organisms is strongly influenced by temperature. For ground nesting species like the primitively eusocial halictid bee, Lasioglossum malachurum, soil temperature might influence the life cycle as well as the complexity of the social group since the number of broods that can be fitted into the flight season might increase with increasing temperature. Our study populationof L. malachurum at Wuerzburg exhibits a remarkable variability with respect to the number of broods and the pattern of sexual production. Broods are separated by activity pauses during which the larvae develop. In this study we investigate the influence of soil temperature on the pattern of nesting activity (duration of broods and pauses) and on the number of broods in L. malachurum. We observed a total of 1138 nests in 13 aggregations near Wuerzburg. As expected, soil temperature shortened the duration of the pauses, resulting in an overall shortening of the nesting cycle. This is most probably due to a physiological effect of soil temperature on the development of the larvae. With regard to the nesting strategies, we hypothesized that a shortening of the nesting cycle within the limited flight season should enhance the success of a strategy with more worker broods. In fact, patches with higher soil temperature showed more broods. However, this effect was rather weak, suggesting that other factors might have a stronger impact on the variability in nesting strategy within our study population of L. malachurum.

• Emergence of spatially structured populations by area-concentrated search Chaianunporn, Thotsapol; Hovestadt, Thomas in Ecology and Evolution (2022). 12(12)
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  @article{Chaianunporn_2022, author = {Chaianunporn, Thotsapol and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, keywords = {myown}, month = {nov}, number = 12, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {Emergence of spatially structured populations by area-concentrated search}, volume = 12, year = 2022 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Chaianunporn_2022 %A Chaianunporn, Thotsapol %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2022 %I Wiley %J Ecology and Evolution %N 12 %R 10.1002/ece3.9528 %T Emergence of spatially structured populations by area-concentrated search %U https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fece3.9528 %V 12
• The rising moon promotes mate finding in moths Storms, Mona; Jakhar, Aryan; Mitesser, Oliver; Jechow, Andreas; Hölker, Franz; Degen, Tobias; Hovestadt, Thomas; Degen, Jacqueline in Communications Biology (2022). 5(1) 1–6.
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  @article{storms2022rising, author = {Storms, Mona and Jakhar, Aryan and Mitesser, Oliver and Jechow, Andreas and H{\"o}lker, Franz and Degen, Tobias and Hovestadt, Thomas and Degen, Jacqueline}, journal = {Communications Biology}, keywords = {teegroup}, number = 1, pages = {1–6}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {The rising moon promotes mate finding in moths}, volume = 5, year = 2022 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 storms2022rising %A Storms, Mona %A Jakhar, Aryan %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Jechow, Andreas %A Hölker, Franz %A Degen, Tobias %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Degen, Jacqueline %D 2022 %I Nature Publishing Group %J Communications Biology %N 1 %P 1--6 %T The rising moon promotes mate finding in moths %V 5

• Tracking the temporal dynamics of insect defoliation by high-resolution radar satellite data Bae, Soyeon; Müller, Jörg; Förster, Bernhard; Hilmers, Torben; Hochrein, Sophia; Jacobs, Martin; Leroy, Benjamin ML; Pretzsch, Hans; Weisser, Wolfgang W; Mitesser, Oliver in Methods in Ecology and Evolution (2021).
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  @article{bae2021tracking, author = {Bae, Soyeon and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and F{\"o}rster, Bernhard and Hilmers, Torben and Hochrein, Sophia and Jacobs, Martin and Leroy, Benjamin ML and Pretzsch, Hans and Weisser, Wolfgang W and Mitesser, Oliver}, journal = {Methods in Ecology and Evolution}, keywords = {teegroup}, publisher = {Wiley Online Library}, title = {Tracking the temporal dynamics of insect defoliation by high-resolution radar satellite data}, year = 2021 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 bae2021tracking %A Bae, Soyeon %A Müller, Jörg %A Förster, Bernhard %A Hilmers, Torben %A Hochrein, Sophia %A Jacobs, Martin %A Leroy, Benjamin ML %A Pretzsch, Hans %A Weisser, Wolfgang W %A Mitesser, Oliver %D 2021 %I Wiley Online Library %J Methods in Ecology and Evolution %T Tracking the temporal dynamics of insect defoliation by high-resolution radar satellite data
• Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon Helfrich-Förster, C.; Monecke, S.; Spiousas, I.; Hovestadt, T.; Mitesser, O.; Wehr, T.A. in Science Advances (2021). 7(5) eabe1358.
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  @article{helfrichforster2021women, abstract = {Many species synchronize reproductive behavior with a particular phase of the lunar cycle to increase reproductive success. In humans, a lunar influence on reproductive behavior remains controversial, although the human menstrual cycle has a period close to that of the lunar cycle. Here, we analyzed long-term menstrual recordings of individual women with distinct methods for biological rhythm analysis. We show that women’s menstrual cycles with a period longer than 27 days were intermittently synchronous with the Moon’s luminance and/or gravimetric cycles. With age and upon exposure to artificial nocturnal light, menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony. We hypothesize that in ancient times, human reproductive behavior was synchronous with the Moon but that our modern lifestyles have changed reproductive physiology and behavior.}, author = {Helfrich-Förster, C. and Monecke, S. and Spiousas, I. and Hovestadt, T. and Mitesser, O. and Wehr, T.A.}, journal = {Science Advances}, keywords = {myown}, number = 5, pages = {eabe1358}, title = {Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon}, volume = 7, year = 2021 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 helfrichforster2021women %A Helfrich-Förster, C. %A Monecke, S. %A Spiousas, I. %A Hovestadt, T. %A Mitesser, O. %A Wehr, T.A. %D 2021 %J Science Advances %N 5 %P eabe1358 %R 10.1126/sciadv.abe1358 %T Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon %U https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/5/eabe1358 %V 7 %X Many species synchronize reproductive behavior with a particular phase of the lunar cycle to increase reproductive success. In humans, a lunar influence on reproductive behavior remains controversial, although the human menstrual cycle has a period close to that of the lunar cycle. Here, we analyzed long-term menstrual recordings of individual women with distinct methods for biological rhythm analysis. We show that women’s menstrual cycles with a period longer than 27 days were intermittently synchronous with the Moon’s luminance and/or gravimetric cycles. With age and upon exposure to artificial nocturnal light, menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony. We hypothesize that in ancient times, human reproductive behavior was synchronous with the Moon but that our modern lifestyles have changed reproductive physiology and behavior.
• Disentangling effects of climate and land use on biodiversity and ecosystem servicestextemdashA multi-scale experimental design Redlich, Sarah; Zhang, Jie; Benjamin, Caryl; Dhillon, Maninder Singh; Englmeier, Jana; Ewald, Jörg; Fricke, Ute; Ganuza, Cristina; Haensel, Maria; Hovestadt, Thomas; Kollmann, Johannes; Koellner, Thomas; Kübert-Flock, Carina; Kunstmann, Harald; Menzel, Annette; Moning, Christoph; Peters, Wibke; Riebl, Rebekka; Rummler, Thomas; Rojas-Botero, Sandra; Tobisch, Cynthia; Uhler, Johannes; Uphus, Lars; Müller, Jörg; Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf in Methods in Ecology and Evolution (2021).
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  @article{Redlich_2021, author = {Redlich, Sarah and Zhang, Jie and Benjamin, Caryl and Dhillon, Maninder Singh and Englmeier, Jana and Ewald, Jörg and Fricke, Ute and Ganuza, Cristina and Haensel, Maria and Hovestadt, Thomas and Kollmann, Johannes and Koellner, Thomas and Kübert-Flock, Carina and Kunstmann, Harald and Menzel, Annette and Moning, Christoph and Peters, Wibke and Riebl, Rebekka and Rummler, Thomas and Rojas-Botero, Sandra and Tobisch, Cynthia and Uhler, Johannes and Uphus, Lars and Müller, Jörg and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf}, journal = {Methods in Ecology and Evolution}, keywords = {teegroup}, month = {nov}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {Disentangling effects of climate and land use on biodiversity and ecosystem services{\textemdash}A multi-scale experimental design}, year = 2021 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Redlich_2021 %A Redlich, Sarah %A Zhang, Jie %A Benjamin, Caryl %A Dhillon, Maninder Singh %A Englmeier, Jana %A Ewald, Jörg %A Fricke, Ute %A Ganuza, Cristina %A Haensel, Maria %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Kollmann, Johannes %A Koellner, Thomas %A Kübert-Flock, Carina %A Kunstmann, Harald %A Menzel, Annette %A Moning, Christoph %A Peters, Wibke %A Riebl, Rebekka %A Rummler, Thomas %A Rojas-Botero, Sandra %A Tobisch, Cynthia %A Uhler, Johannes %A Uphus, Lars %A Müller, Jörg %A Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf %D 2021 %I Wiley %J Methods in Ecology and Evolution %R 10.1111/2041-210x.13759 %T Disentangling effects of climate and land use on biodiversity and ecosystem servicestextemdashA multi-scale experimental design %U https://doi.org/10.1111%2F2041-210x.13759
• Natural Zeitgebers Under Temperate Conditions Cannot Compensate for the Loss of a Functional Circadian Clock in Timing of a Vital Behavior in Drosophila Ruf, Franziska; Mitesser, Oliver; Mungwa, Simon Tii; Horn, Melanie; Rieger, Dirk; Hovestadt, Thomas; Wegener, Christian in JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS (2021). 36(3) 271–285.
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  @article{WOS:000631604700001, abstract = {{The adaptive significance of adjusting behavioral activities to the right time of the day seems obvious. Laboratory studies implicated an important role of circadian clocks in behavioral timing and rhythmicity. Yet, recent studies on clock-mutant animals questioned this importance under more naturalistic settings, as various clock mutants showed nearly normal diel activity rhythms under seminatural zeitgeber conditions. We here report evidence that proper timing of eclosion, a vital behavior of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, requires a functional molecular clock under quasi-natural conditions. In contrast to wild-type flies, period(01) mutants with a defective molecular clock showed impaired rhythmicity and gating in a temperate environment even in the presence of a full complement of abiotic zeitgebers. Although period(01) mutants still eclosed during a certain time window during the day, this time window was much broader and loosely defined, and rhythmicity was lower or lost as classified by various statistical measures. Moreover, peak eclosion time became more susceptible to variable day-to-day changes of light. In contrast, flies with impaired peptidergic interclock signaling (Pdf(01) and han(5304) PDF receptor mutants) eclosed mostly rhythmically with normal gate sizes, similar to wild-type controls. Our results suggest that the presence of natural zeitgebers is not sufficient, and a functional molecular clock is required to induce stable temporal eclosion patterns in flies under temperate conditions with considerable day-to-day variation in light intensity and temperature. Temperate zeitgebers are, however, sufficient to functionally rescue a loss of PDF-mediated clock-internal and -output signaling}}, author = {Ruf, Franziska and Mitesser, Oliver and Mungwa, Simon Tii and Horn, Melanie and Rieger, Dirk and Hovestadt, Thomas and Wegener, Christian}, journal = {{JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS}}, keywords = {teegroup}, month = {{JUN}}, number = {{3}}, pages = {{271-285}}, title = {{Natural Zeitgebers Under Temperate Conditions Cannot Compensate for the Loss of a Functional Circadian Clock in Timing of a Vital Behavior in Drosophila}}, volume = {{36}}, year = {{2021}} }

  %0 Journal Article %1 WOS:000631604700001 %A Ruf, Franziska %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Mungwa, Simon Tii %A Horn, Melanie %A Rieger, Dirk %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Wegener, Christian %D 2021 %J JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS %N 3 %P 271-285 %R {10.1177/0748730421998112} %T Natural Zeitgebers Under Temperate Conditions Cannot Compensate for the Loss of a Functional Circadian Clock in Timing of a Vital Behavior in Drosophila %V 36 %X The adaptive significance of adjusting behavioral activities to the right time of the day seems obvious. Laboratory studies implicated an important role of circadian clocks in behavioral timing and rhythmicity. Yet, recent studies on clock-mutant animals questioned this importance under more naturalistic settings, as various clock mutants showed nearly normal diel activity rhythms under seminatural zeitgeber conditions. We here report evidence that proper timing of eclosion, a vital behavior of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, requires a functional molecular clock under quasi-natural conditions. In contrast to wild-type flies, period(01) mutants with a defective molecular clock showed impaired rhythmicity and gating in a temperate environment even in the presence of a full complement of abiotic zeitgebers. Although period(01) mutants still eclosed during a certain time window during the day, this time window was much broader and loosely defined, and rhythmicity was lower or lost as classified by various statistical measures. Moreover, peak eclosion time became more susceptible to variable day-to-day changes of light. In contrast, flies with impaired peptidergic interclock signaling (Pdf(01) and han(5304) PDF receptor mutants) eclosed mostly rhythmically with normal gate sizes, similar to wild-type controls. Our results suggest that the presence of natural zeitgebers is not sufficient, and a functional molecular clock is required to induce stable temporal eclosion patterns in flies under temperate conditions with considerable day-to-day variation in light intensity and temperature. Temperate zeitgebers are, however, sufficient to functionally rescue a loss of PDF-mediated clock-internal and -output signaling
• Relationship of insect biomass and richness with land use along a climate gradient Uhler, Johannes; Redlich, Sarah; Zhang, Jie; Hothorn, Torsten; Tobisch, Cynthia; Ewald, Jörg; Thorn, Simon; Seibold, Sebastian; Mitesser, Oliver; Morinière, Jérôme; others in Nature communications (2021). 12(1) 1–9.
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  @article{uhler2021relationship, author = {Uhler, Johannes and Redlich, Sarah and Zhang, Jie and Hothorn, Torsten and Tobisch, Cynthia and Ewald, J{\"o}rg and Thorn, Simon and Seibold, Sebastian and Mitesser, Oliver and Morini{\`e}re, J{\'e}r{\^o}me and others}, journal = {Nature communications}, keywords = {teegroup}, number = 1, pages = {1–9}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {Relationship of insect biomass and richness with land use along a climate gradient}, volume = 12, year = 2021 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 uhler2021relationship %A Uhler, Johannes %A Redlich, Sarah %A Zhang, Jie %A Hothorn, Torsten %A Tobisch, Cynthia %A Ewald, Jörg %A Thorn, Simon %A Seibold, Sebastian %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Morinière, Jérôme %A others, %D 2021 %I Nature Publishing Group %J Nature communications %N 1 %P 1--9 %T Relationship of insect biomass and richness with land use along a climate gradient %V 12
• A new innovative real-time tracking method for flying insects applicable under natural conditions Walter, Thomas; Degen, Jacqueline; Pfeiffer, Keram; Stöckl, Anna; Montenegro, Sergio; Degen, Tobias in BMC Zoology (2021). 6(1)
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  @article{Walter_2021, author = {Walter, Thomas and Degen, Jacqueline and Pfeiffer, Keram and Stöckl, Anna and Montenegro, Sergio and Degen, Tobias}, journal = {{BMC} Zoology}, keywords = {teegroup}, month = {dec}, number = 1, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}}, title = {A new innovative real-time tracking method for flying insects applicable under natural conditions}, volume = 6, year = 2021 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Walter_2021 %A Walter, Thomas %A Degen, Jacqueline %A Pfeiffer, Keram %A Stöckl, Anna %A Montenegro, Sergio %A Degen, Tobias %D 2021 %I Springer Science and Business Media LLC %J BMC Zoology %N 1 %R 10.1186/s40850-021-00097-3 %T A new innovative real-time tracking method for flying insects applicable under natural conditions %U https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fs40850-021-00097-3 %V 6

• A Novel Thermal-Visual Place Learning Paradigm for Honeybees (Apis mellifera) Scheiner, Ricarda; Frantzmann, Felix; Jäger, Maria; Mitesser, Oliver; Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte; Pauls, Dennis in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2020). 14 56.
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  @article{10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00056, author = {Scheiner, Ricarda and Frantzmann, Felix and Jäger, Maria and Mitesser, Oliver and Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte and Pauls, Dennis}, journal = {Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = 56, title = {A Novel Thermal-Visual Place Learning Paradigm for Honeybees (Apis mellifera)}, volume = 14, year = 2020 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00056 %A Scheiner, Ricarda %A Frantzmann, Felix %A Jäger, Maria %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte %A Pauls, Dennis %D 2020 %J Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience %P 56 %R 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00056 %T A Novel Thermal-Visual Place Learning Paradigm for Honeybees (Apis mellifera) %U https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00056 %V 14
• The degree of spatial variation relative to temporal variation influences evolution of dispersal Sieger, Charlotte Sophie; Hovestadt, Thomas in Oikos (2020). 129(11) 1611–1622.
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  @article{Sieger_2020, author = {Sieger, Charlotte Sophie and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Oikos}, keywords = {myown}, month = {sep}, number = 11, pages = {1611–1622}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {The degree of spatial variation relative to temporal variation influences evolution of dispersal}, volume = 129, year = 2020 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Sieger_2020 %A Sieger, Charlotte Sophie %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2020 %I Wiley %J Oikos %N 11 %P 1611--1622 %R 10.1111/oik.07567 %T The degree of spatial variation relative to temporal variation influences evolution of dispersal %U https://doi.org/10.1111%2Foik.07567 %V 129
• Sexual differences in age-dependent survival and life span of adults in a natural butterfly population Sielezniew, M.; Kostro-Ambroziak, A.; Kőrösi, Á. in Sci Rep (2020). 10 10394.
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  @article{sielezniew2020sexual, abstract = {Adult survival and longevity in insects are key life-history traits, but their variation between sexes and individuals in natural populations is largely unexplored. Sexual divergence in senescence, the decline in survival with age is also poorly understood. Based on an intensive mark-recapture dataset of the butterfly Polyommatus daphnis, we aimed to assess whether adult survival is age-dependent, and to estimate life span distribution and abundance of males and females using Cormack-Jolly-Seber and Jolly-Seber models. Female survival slightly increased with date of emergence and slightly decreased with age, while male survival considerably declined with age. Mean life span of females (12.7 days) was  50% higher than that of males (8.5 days), but two times higher if only the oldest 5% of each sex was considered (39 vs.19 days). Abundance of females (358 ± 14) and males (359 ± 11) was similar, but peak abundance of males preceded that of females by 11 days. Our results suggest that senescence is much more rapid in males than in females in this butterfly, which is in agreement with sexual selection theory. We also conclude that estimating life span distributions provides much more valuable information on the demography of natural populations than simply reporting the mean life span.}, author = {Sielezniew, M. and Kostro-Ambroziak, A. and Kőrösi, Á.}, journal = {Sci Rep}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = 10394, title = {Sexual differences in age-dependent survival and life span of adults in a natural butterfly population}, volume = 10, year = 2020 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 sielezniew2020sexual %A Sielezniew, M. %A Kostro-Ambroziak, A. %A Kőrösi, Á. %D 2020 %J Sci Rep %P 10394 %R 10.1038/s41598-020-66922-w %T Sexual differences in age-dependent survival and life span of adults in a natural butterfly population %U https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66922-w %V 10 %X Adult survival and longevity in insects are key life-history traits, but their variation between sexes and individuals in natural populations is largely unexplored. Sexual divergence in senescence, the decline in survival with age is also poorly understood. Based on an intensive mark-recapture dataset of the butterfly Polyommatus daphnis, we aimed to assess whether adult survival is age-dependent, and to estimate life span distribution and abundance of males and females using Cormack-Jolly-Seber and Jolly-Seber models. Female survival slightly increased with date of emergence and slightly decreased with age, while male survival considerably declined with age. Mean life span of females (12.7 days) was ~50% higher than that of males (8.5 days), but two times higher if only the oldest 5% of each sex was considered (39 vs.19 days). Abundance of females (358 ± 14) and males (359 ± 11) was similar, but peak abundance of males preceded that of females by 11 days. Our results suggest that senescence is much more rapid in males than in females in this butterfly, which is in agreement with sexual selection theory. We also conclude that estimating life span distributions provides much more valuable information on the demography of natural populations than simply reporting the mean life span.
• Are all butterflies equal? Population-wise proboscis length variation predicts flower choice in a butterfly Szigeti, Viktor; Vajna, Flóra; KHo}}rösi, Ádám; Kis, János in Animal Behaviour (2020). 163 135–143.
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  @article{Szigeti_2020, author = {Szigeti, Viktor and Vajna, Fl{\'{o}}ra and K{\H{o}}rösi, {\'{A}}d{\'{a}}m and Kis, J{\'{a}}nos}, journal = {Animal Behaviour}, keywords = {preference}, month = {may}, pages = {135–143}, publisher = {Elsevier {BV}}, title = {Are all butterflies equal? Population-wise proboscis length variation predicts flower choice in a butterfly}, volume = 163, year = 2020 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Szigeti_2020 %A Szigeti, Viktor %A Vajna, Flóra %A KHo}}rösi, Ádám %A Kis, János %D 2020 %I Elsevier BV %J Animal Behaviour %P 135--143 %R 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.03.008 %T Are all butterflies equal? Population-wise proboscis length variation predicts flower choice in a butterfly %U https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.anbehav.2020.03.008 %V 163

• Dispersal evolution in metacommunities of tri-trophic systems Chaianunporn, T.; Hovestadt, T. in Ecological Modelling (2019). 395 28–38.
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  @article{chaianunporn2019dispersal, author = {Chaianunporn, T. and Hovestadt, T.}, journal = {Ecological Modelling}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = {28-38}, title = {Dispersal evolution in metacommunities of tri-trophic systems}, volume = 395, year = 2019 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 chaianunporn2019dispersal %A Chaianunporn, T. %A Hovestadt, T. %D 2019 %J Ecological Modelling %P 28-38 %R 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.01.012 %T Dispersal evolution in metacommunities of tri-trophic systems %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380019300262 %V 395
• Habitat loss and fragmentation increase realized predatortextendashprey body size ratios Hillaert, Jasmijn; Vandegehuchte, Martijn L.; Hovestadt, Thomas; Bonte, Dries in Functional Ecology, (M. Spasojevic, ed.) (2019). 34(2) 534–544.
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  @article{Hillaert_2019, author = {Hillaert, Jasmijn and Vandegehuchte, Martijn L. and Hovestadt, Thomas and Bonte, Dries}, editor = {Spasojevic, Marko}, journal = {Functional Ecology}, keywords = {myown}, month = {nov}, number = 2, pages = {534–544}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {Habitat loss and fragmentation increase realized predator{\textendash}prey body size ratios}, volume = 34, year = 2019 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Hillaert_2019 %A Hillaert, Jasmijn %A Vandegehuchte, Martijn L. %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Bonte, Dries %D 2019 %E Spasojevic, Marko %I Wiley %J Functional Ecology %N 2 %P 534--544 %R 10.1111/1365-2435.13472 %T Habitat loss and fragmentation increase realized predatortextendashprey body size ratios %U https://doi.org/10.1111%2F1365-2435.13472 %V 34
• The Circadian Clock Improves Fitness in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster Horn, Melanie; Mitesser, Oliver; Hovestadt, Thomas; Yoshii, Taishi; Rieger, Dirk; Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte in Frontiers in Physiology (2019). 10 1374.
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  @article{10.3389/fphys.2019.01374, author = {Horn, Melanie and Mitesser, Oliver and Hovestadt, Thomas and Yoshii, Taishi and Rieger, Dirk and Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte}, journal = {Frontiers in Physiology}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = 1374, title = {The Circadian Clock Improves Fitness in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster}, volume = 10, year = 2019 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 10.3389/fphys.2019.01374 %A Horn, Melanie %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Yoshii, Taishi %A Rieger, Dirk %A Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte %D 2019 %J Frontiers in Physiology %P 1374 %R 10.3389/fphys.2019.01374 %T The Circadian Clock Improves Fitness in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster %U https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2019.01374 %V 10
• Multiple host use and the dynamics of host switching in hosttextendashparasite systems Hovestadt, Thomas; Thomas, Jeremy A.; Mitesser, Oliver; Schönrogge, Karsten in Insect Conservation and Diversity (2019).
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  @article{Hovestadt_2019, author = {Hovestadt, Thomas and Thomas, Jeremy A. and Mitesser, Oliver and Schönrogge, Karsten}, journal = {Insect Conservation and Diversity}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {aug}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {Multiple host use and the dynamics of host switching in host{\textendash}parasite systems}, year = 2019 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Hovestadt_2019 %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Thomas, Jeremy A. %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Schönrogge, Karsten %D 2019 %I Wiley %J Insect Conservation and Diversity %R 10.1111/icad.12374 %T Multiple host use and the dynamics of host switching in hosttextendashparasite systems %U https://doi.org/10.1111%2Ficad.12374
• Modeling water quality in the Anthropocene: directions for the next-generation aquatic ecosystem models Mooij, Wolf M; van Wijk, Dianneke; Beusen, Arthur HW; Brederveld, Robert J; Chang, Manqi; Cobben, Marleen MP; DeAngelis, Don L; Downing, Andrea S; Green, Pamela; Gsell, Alena S; Huttunen, Inese; Janse, Jan H; Janssen, Annette BG; Hengeveld, Geerten M; Kong, Xiangzhen; Kramer, Lilith; Kuiper, Jan J; Langan, Simon J; Nolet, Bart A; Nuijten, Rascha JM; Strokal, Maryna; Troost, Tineke A; van Dam, Anne A; Teurlincx, Sven in Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability (2019). 36 85–95.
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  @article{MOOIJ201985, abstract = {“Everything changes and nothing stands still” (Heraclitus). Here we review three major improvements to freshwater aquatic ecosystem models — and ecological models in general — as water quality scenario analysis tools towards a sustainable future. To tackle the rapid and deeply connected dynamics characteristic of the Anthropocene, we argue for the inclusion of eco-evolutionary, novel ecosystem and social-ecological dynamics. These dynamics arise from adaptive responses in organisms and ecosystems to global environmental change and act at different integration levels and different time scales. We provide reasons and means to incorporate each improvement into aquatic ecosystem models. Throughout this study we refer to Lake Victoria as a microcosm of the evolving novel social-ecological systems of the Anthropocene. The Lake Victoria case clearly shows how interlinked eco-evolutionary, novel ecosystem and social-ecological dynamics are, and demonstrates the need for transdisciplinary research approaches towards global sustainability.}, author = {Mooij, Wolf M and van Wijk, Dianneke and Beusen, Arthur HW and Brederveld, Robert J and Chang, Manqi and Cobben, Marleen MP and DeAngelis, Don L and Downing, Andrea S and Green, Pamela and Gsell, Alena S and Huttunen, Inese and Janse, Jan H and Janssen, Annette BG and Hengeveld, Geerten M and Kong, Xiangzhen and Kramer, Lilith and Kuiper, Jan J and Langan, Simon J and Nolet, Bart A and Nuijten, Rascha JM and Strokal, Maryna and Troost, Tineke A and van Dam, Anne A and Teurlincx, Sven}, journal = {Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = {85 - 95}, title = {Modeling water quality in the Anthropocene: directions for the next-generation aquatic ecosystem models}, volume = 36, year = 2019 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 MOOIJ201985 %A Mooij, Wolf M %A van Wijk, Dianneke %A Beusen, Arthur HW %A Brederveld, Robert J %A Chang, Manqi %A Cobben, Marleen MP %A DeAngelis, Don L %A Downing, Andrea S %A Green, Pamela %A Gsell, Alena S %A Huttunen, Inese %A Janse, Jan H %A Janssen, Annette BG %A Hengeveld, Geerten M %A Kong, Xiangzhen %A Kramer, Lilith %A Kuiper, Jan J %A Langan, Simon J %A Nolet, Bart A %A Nuijten, Rascha JM %A Strokal, Maryna %A Troost, Tineke A %A van Dam, Anne A %A Teurlincx, Sven %D 2019 %J Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability %P 85 - 95 %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2018.10.012 %T Modeling water quality in the Anthropocene: directions for the next-generation aquatic ecosystem models %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343518300356 %V 36 %X “Everything changes and nothing stands still” (Heraclitus). Here we review three major improvements to freshwater aquatic ecosystem models — and ecological models in general — as water quality scenario analysis tools towards a sustainable future. To tackle the rapid and deeply connected dynamics characteristic of the Anthropocene, we argue for the inclusion of eco-evolutionary, novel ecosystem and social-ecological dynamics. These dynamics arise from adaptive responses in organisms and ecosystems to global environmental change and act at different integration levels and different time scales. We provide reasons and means to incorporate each improvement into aquatic ecosystem models. Throughout this study we refer to Lake Victoria as a microcosm of the evolving novel social-ecological systems of the Anthropocene. The Lake Victoria case clearly shows how interlinked eco-evolutionary, novel ecosystem and social-ecological dynamics are, and demonstrates the need for transdisciplinary research approaches towards global sustainability.
• Environmental change and variability influence niche evolution of isolated natural populations Sieger, Charlotte S.; Cobben, Marleen M. P.; Hovestadt, Thomas in Regional Environmental Change (2019). 19(7) 1999–2011.
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  @article{Sieger2019, abstract = {Most organisms face variable environmental conditions. Strategies to cope with such variation are e.g., bet-hedging, dispersal, or tolerance. With a systematic trend in temperature or other environmental characteristics, e.g., under climate change, species also experience selection pressure towards a changing environmental optimum. Here, we simulate the evolution of niche optimum and width (tolerance) in isolated populations, under different scenarios: (1) environmental conditions are static (constant mean and standard deviation; control) or follow a trend in (2) the mean, (3) the variance, or (4) in both, simulating the predicted effects of climate change. Tolerance trades off against maximum fertility (fitness). Results show that populations can evolutionarily track a trend in mean conditions as long as change does not proceed too fast. An increase in variance, however, can be more detrimental, due to the inherent trade-offs associated with enlarging tolerance. Indeed, for any given trade-off, a theoretical upper boundary exists for the evolution of tolerance: if environmental variance becomes too large, populations cannot evolve sufficient tolerance and go extinct. An increasing variance can never be tracked indefinitely if a trade-off as assumed here exists. Importantly, climate change models often focus on the impact of increasing mean temperatures only. Here, we show that including the projected increase in environmental variance may change results considerably.}, author = {Sieger, Charlotte S. and Cobben, Marleen M. P. and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Regional Environmental Change}, keywords = {myown}, month = {oct}, number = 7, pages = {1999–2011}, title = {Environmental change and variability influence niche evolution of isolated natural populations}, volume = 19, year = 2019 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Sieger2019 %A Sieger, Charlotte S. %A Cobben, Marleen M. P. %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2019 %J Regional Environmental Change %N 7 %P 1999--2011 %R 10.1007/s10113-019-01534-3 %T Environmental change and variability influence niche evolution of isolated natural populations %U https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-019-01534-3 %V 19 %X Most organisms face variable environmental conditions. Strategies to cope with such variation are e.g., bet-hedging, dispersal, or tolerance. With a systematic trend in temperature or other environmental characteristics, e.g., under climate change, species also experience selection pressure towards a changing environmental optimum. Here, we simulate the evolution of niche optimum and width (tolerance) in isolated populations, under different scenarios: (1) environmental conditions are static (constant mean and standard deviation; control) or follow a trend in (2) the mean, (3) the variance, or (4) in both, simulating the predicted effects of climate change. Tolerance trades off against maximum fertility (fitness). Results show that populations can evolutionarily track a trend in mean conditions as long as change does not proceed too fast. An increase in variance, however, can be more detrimental, due to the inherent trade-offs associated with enlarging tolerance. Indeed, for any given trade-off, a theoretical upper boundary exists for the evolution of tolerance: if environmental variance becomes too large, populations cannot evolve sufficient tolerance and go extinct. An increasing variance can never be tracked indefinitely if a trade-off as assumed here exists. Importantly, climate change models often focus on the impact of increasing mean temperatures only. Here, we show that including the projected increase in environmental variance may change results considerably.

• Exploratory behavior of re-orienting foragers differs from other flight patterns of honeybees Degen, Jacqueline; Hovestadt, Thomas; Storms, Mona; Menzel, Randolf in PLOS ONE (2018). 13(8) 1–14.
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  @article{10.1371/journal.pone.0202171, abstract = {Honeybees, Apis mellifera, perform re-orientation flights to learn about the new surroundings of the hive when their hive is transported to a new location. Since the pattern of re-orientation flights has not yet been studied, we asked whether this form of exploratory behavior differs from the well described exploratory orientation flights performed by young honeybees before they start foraging. We also investigated whether the exploratory components of re-orientation flights differ from foraging flights and if so how. We recorded re-orientation flights using harmonic radar technology and compared the patterns and flight parameters of these flights with the first exploratory orientation flights of young honeybees and foraging flights of experienced foragers. Just as exploratory orientation flights of young honeybees, re-orientation flights can be classified into short- and long-range flights, and most short-range re-orientation flights were performed under unfavorable weather conditions. This indicates that bees adapt the flight pattern of their re-orientation and orientation flights to changing weather conditions in a similar way. Unlike exploratory orientation flights, more than one sector of the landscape was explored during a long-range re-orientation flight, and significantly longer flight durations and flight distances were observed. Thus, re-orienting bees explored a larger terrain than bees performing their first exploratory orientation flight. By displacing some bees after their first re-orientation flight, we could demonstrate that a single re-orientation flight seems to be sufficient to learn the new location of the hive. The flight patterns of re-orientation flights differed clearly from those of foraging flights. Thus, re-orientation flights represent a special exploratory behavior that is triggered by a change in the location of the hive.}, author = {Degen, Jacqueline and Hovestadt, Thomas and Storms, Mona and Menzel, Randolf}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, keywords = {teegroup}, month = {08}, number = 8, pages = {1-14}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {Exploratory behavior of re-orienting foragers differs from other flight patterns of honeybees}, volume = 13, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 10.1371/journal.pone.0202171 %A Degen, Jacqueline %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Storms, Mona %A Menzel, Randolf %D 2018 %I Public Library of Science %J PLOS ONE %N 8 %P 1-14 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0202171 %T Exploratory behavior of re-orienting foragers differs from other flight patterns of honeybees %U https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202171 %V 13 %X Honeybees, Apis mellifera, perform re-orientation flights to learn about the new surroundings of the hive when their hive is transported to a new location. Since the pattern of re-orientation flights has not yet been studied, we asked whether this form of exploratory behavior differs from the well described exploratory orientation flights performed by young honeybees before they start foraging. We also investigated whether the exploratory components of re-orientation flights differ from foraging flights and if so how. We recorded re-orientation flights using harmonic radar technology and compared the patterns and flight parameters of these flights with the first exploratory orientation flights of young honeybees and foraging flights of experienced foragers. Just as exploratory orientation flights of young honeybees, re-orientation flights can be classified into short- and long-range flights, and most short-range re-orientation flights were performed under unfavorable weather conditions. This indicates that bees adapt the flight pattern of their re-orientation and orientation flights to changing weather conditions in a similar way. Unlike exploratory orientation flights, more than one sector of the landscape was explored during a long-range re-orientation flight, and significantly longer flight durations and flight distances were observed. Thus, re-orienting bees explored a larger terrain than bees performing their first exploratory orientation flight. By displacing some bees after their first re-orientation flight, we could demonstrate that a single re-orientation flight seems to be sufficient to learn the new location of the hive. The flight patterns of re-orientation flights differed clearly from those of foraging flights. Thus, re-orientation flights represent a special exploratory behavior that is triggered by a change in the location of the hive.
• Eusociality outcompetes egalitarian and solitary strategies when resources are limited and reproduction is costly Fronhofer, E. A.; Liebig, J.; Mitesser, O.; Poethke, H. J. in Ecology and Evolution (2018).
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  @article{a2018eusociality, author = {Fronhofer, E. A. and Liebig, J. and Mitesser, O. and Poethke, H. J.}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, keywords = {teegroup}, title = {Eusociality outcompetes egalitarian and solitary strategies when resources are limited and reproduction is costly}, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 a2018eusociality %A Fronhofer, E. A. %A Liebig, J. %A Mitesser, O. %A Poethke, H. J. %D 2018 %J Ecology and Evolution %T Eusociality outcompetes egalitarian and solitary strategies when resources are limited and reproduction is costly
• Information use during movement regulates how fragmentation and loss of habitat affect body size Hillaert, Jamijn; Vandegehuchte, Martijn L.; Hovestadt, Thomas; Bonte, Dries in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (B) (2018). 285
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  @article{hillaert2018information, abstract = {An individual's body size is central to its behaviour and physiology, and tightly linked to its movement ability. The spatial arrangement of resources and a consumer's capacity to locate them are therefore expected to exert strong selection on consumer body size. We investigated the evolutionary impact of both the fragmentation and loss of habitat on consumer body size and its feedback effects on resource distribution, under varying levels of information used during habitat choice. We developed a mechanistic, individual-based, spatially explicit model, including several allometric rules for key consumer traits. Our model reveals that as resources become more fragmented and scarce, informed habitat choice selects for larger body sizes while random habitat choice promotes small sizes. Information use may thus be an overlooked explanation for the observed variation in body size responses to habitat fragmentation. Moreover, we find that resources can accumulate and aggregate if information about resource abundance is incomplete. Informed movement results in stable resource–consumer dynamics and controlled resources across space. However, habitat loss and fragmentation destabilize local dynamics and disturb resource suppression by the consumer. Considering information use during movement is thus critical to understand the eco-evolutionary dynamics underlying the functioning and structuring of consumer communities.}, author = {Hillaert, Jamijn and Vandegehuchte, Martijn L. and Hovestadt, Thomas and Bonte, Dries}, journal = {Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (B)}, keywords = {teegroup}, title = {Information use during movement regulates how fragmentation and loss of habitat affect body size}, volume = 285, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hillaert2018information %A Hillaert, Jamijn %A Vandegehuchte, Martijn L. %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Bonte, Dries %D 2018 %J Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (B) %R https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0953 %T Information use during movement regulates how fragmentation and loss of habitat affect body size %V 285 %X An individual's body size is central to its behaviour and physiology, and tightly linked to its movement ability. The spatial arrangement of resources and a consumer's capacity to locate them are therefore expected to exert strong selection on consumer body size. We investigated the evolutionary impact of both the fragmentation and loss of habitat on consumer body size and its feedback effects on resource distribution, under varying levels of information used during habitat choice. We developed a mechanistic, individual-based, spatially explicit model, including several allometric rules for key consumer traits. Our model reveals that as resources become more fragmented and scarce, informed habitat choice selects for larger body sizes while random habitat choice promotes small sizes. Information use may thus be an overlooked explanation for the observed variation in body size responses to habitat fragmentation. Moreover, we find that resources can accumulate and aggregate if information about resource abundance is incomplete. Informed movement results in stable resource–consumer dynamics and controlled resources across space. However, habitat loss and fragmentation destabilize local dynamics and disturb resource suppression by the consumer. Considering information use during movement is thus critical to understand the eco-evolutionary dynamics underlying the functioning and structuring of consumer communities.
• Size-dependent movement explains why bigger is better in fragmented landscapes Hillaert, Jasmijn; Hovestadt, Thomas; Vandegehuchte, Martijn L.; Bonte, Dries in Ecology and Evolution (2018). 8 10754–10767.
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  @article{hillaert2018sizedependent, abstract = {Body size is a fundamental trait known to allometrically scale with metabolic rate and therefore a key determinant of individual development, life history, and consequently fitness. In spatially structured environments, movement is an equally important driver of fitness. Because movement is tightly coupled with body size, we expect habitat fragmentation to induce a strong selection pressure on size variation across and within species. Changes in body size distributions are then, in turn, expected to alter food web dynamics. However, no consensus has been reached on how spatial isolation and resource growth affect consumer body size distributions. Our aim was to investigate how these two factors shape the body size distribution of consumers under scenarios of size‐dependent and size‐independent consumer movement by applying a mechanistic, individual‐based resource–consumer model. We also assessed the consequences of altered body size distributions for important ecosystem traits such as resource abundance and consumer stability. Finally, we determined those factors that explain most variation in size distributions. We demonstrate that decreasing connectivity and resource growth select for communities (or populations) consisting of larger species (or individuals) due to strong selection for the ability to move over longer distances if the movement is size‐dependent. When including size‐dependent movement, intermediate levels of connectivity result in increases in local size diversity. Due to this elevated functional diversity, resource uptake is maximized at the metapopulation or metacommunity level. At these intermediate levels of connectivity, size‐dependent movement explains most of the observed variation in size distributions. Interestingly, local and spatial stability of consumer biomass is lowest when isolation and resource growth are high. Finally, we highlight that size‐dependent movement is of vital importance for the survival of populations or communities within highly fragmented landscapes. Our results demonstrate that considering size‐dependent movement is essential to understand how habitat fragmentation and resource growth shape body size distributions—and the resulting metapopulation or metacommunity dynamics—of consumers.}, author = {Hillaert, Jasmijn and Hovestadt, Thomas and Vandegehuchte, Martijn L. and Bonte, Dries}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = {10754–10767}, title = {Size-dependent movement explains why bigger is better in fragmented landscapes}, volume = 8, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hillaert2018sizedependent %A Hillaert, Jasmijn %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Vandegehuchte, Martijn L. %A Bonte, Dries %D 2018 %J Ecology and Evolution %P 10754–10767 %R https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4524 %T Size-dependent movement explains why bigger is better in fragmented landscapes %V 8 %X Body size is a fundamental trait known to allometrically scale with metabolic rate and therefore a key determinant of individual development, life history, and consequently fitness. In spatially structured environments, movement is an equally important driver of fitness. Because movement is tightly coupled with body size, we expect habitat fragmentation to induce a strong selection pressure on size variation across and within species. Changes in body size distributions are then, in turn, expected to alter food web dynamics. However, no consensus has been reached on how spatial isolation and resource growth affect consumer body size distributions. Our aim was to investigate how these two factors shape the body size distribution of consumers under scenarios of size‐dependent and size‐independent consumer movement by applying a mechanistic, individual‐based resource–consumer model. We also assessed the consequences of altered body size distributions for important ecosystem traits such as resource abundance and consumer stability. Finally, we determined those factors that explain most variation in size distributions. We demonstrate that decreasing connectivity and resource growth select for communities (or populations) consisting of larger species (or individuals) due to strong selection for the ability to move over longer distances if the movement is size‐dependent. When including size‐dependent movement, intermediate levels of connectivity result in increases in local size diversity. Due to this elevated functional diversity, resource uptake is maximized at the metapopulation or metacommunity level. At these intermediate levels of connectivity, size‐dependent movement explains most of the observed variation in size distributions. Interestingly, local and spatial stability of consumer biomass is lowest when isolation and resource growth are high. Finally, we highlight that size‐dependent movement is of vital importance for the survival of populations or communities within highly fragmented landscapes. Our results demonstrate that considering size‐dependent movement is essential to understand how habitat fragmentation and resource growth shape body size distributions—and the resulting metapopulation or metacommunity dynamics—of consumers.
• Suitable triggers for timing the transition from worker to sexual production in annual eusocial insects Hovestadt, T.; Degen, T.; Mitesser, O. in Insectes Sociaux (2018).
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  @article{Hovestadt2018, abstract = {The life cycle of many social insects living in seasonal environments is characterized by a period of (pure) investment into worker brood followed by a phase of pure allocation of resources to the production of sexuals. Researchers have invested some effort to find possible correlates (proximate triggers) of this transition but current empirical knowledge does not provide clear evidence. Utilizing an established theoretical model—modified to account for brood developmental time—we show that a strategy that switches to the production of sexuals at a particular (fixed) date may typically perform better than strategies linking the transition to the status of the colony in terms of attributes like worker or brood number, or the colony's age. Our results provide rationale why the search for cues triggering the transition in investment has been inconclusive at best and suggests a number of experiments and observations that allow validating our arguments.}, author = {Hovestadt, T. and Degen, T. and Mitesser, O.}, journal = {Insectes Sociaux}, keywords = {teegroup}, month = {aug}, title = {Suitable triggers for timing the transition from worker to sexual production in annual eusocial insects}, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Hovestadt2018 %A Hovestadt, T. %A Degen, T. %A Mitesser, O. %D 2018 %J Insectes Sociaux %R 10.1007/s00040-018-0652-5 %T Suitable triggers for timing the transition from worker to sexual production in annual eusocial insects %U https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-018-0652-5 %X The life cycle of many social insects living in seasonal environments is characterized by a period of (pure) investment into worker brood followed by a phase of pure allocation of resources to the production of sexuals. Researchers have invested some effort to find possible correlates (proximate triggers) of this transition but current empirical knowledge does not provide clear evidence. Utilizing an established theoretical model---modified to account for brood developmental time---we show that a strategy that switches to the production of sexuals at a particular (fixed) date may typically perform better than strategies linking the transition to the status of the colony in terms of attributes like worker or brood number, or the colony's age. Our results provide rationale why the search for cues triggering the transition in investment has been inconclusive at best and suggests a number of experiments and observations that allow validating our arguments.
• Explaining the variability in the response of annual eusocial insects to mass-flowering events Hovestadt, Thomas; Mitesser, Oliver; Poethke, Achim; Holzschuh, Andrea in Journal of Animal Ecology (2018).
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  @article{doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12908, abstract = {Abstract Empirical studies of annual eusocial insects in agricultural landscapes report contrasting findings with regard to colony responses to mass-flowering of crops such as oilseed rape. In particular, total sexual production is often unaffected by such events, whereas worker number responds with a prominent increase. To resolve these conflicting observations, we model—using an established approach—the expected change in worker and sexual numbers in response to an increased worker productivity induced by mass-flowering events at different times of the season. We find that the predicted response pattern is mainly shaped by the degree to which individual worker productivity is reduced by an increasing number of workers in the colony. Different environmental conditions and colony characteristics result in different levels of interference of workers, for example, during foraging or nest construction. Reduction in individual productivity is low, when worker interference is negligible (“weak limitation”) and high when an increasing number of workers substantially decreases per-capita efficiency (“strong limitation”). For weak limitation, any mass-flowering event that ends before the production of sexuals starts has a strong multiplicative impact on both worker and sexual numbers. The magnitude of the effect is quite independent of the precise timing of such an event. After the onset of sexual production, mass-flowering has a weaker effect, as the added resource supply is only linearly transferred into production of additional sexuals. For colonies under strong limitation, the predicted impact of mass-flowering events is generally weaker, especially on the production of sexuals, and the timing of mass-flowering events becomes more influential: Production of sexuals profits more from late than from early mass-flowering events. Consequently, early mass-flowering events are predicted to have a prominent effect on worker numbers but a negligible one on the output of sexuals. The model presented provides a mechanistic explanation of why increased worker abundances do not necessarily translate into increased production of sexuals. The model is also applicable to other eusocial insects such as paper wasps whenever brief pulses of massive resource availability shortly elevate resource intake rates above the “normal” levels.}, author = {Hovestadt, Thomas and Mitesser, Oliver and Poethke, Achim and Holzschuh, Andrea}, journal = {Journal of Animal Ecology}, keywords = {teegroup}, title = {Explaining the variability in the response of annual eusocial insects to mass-flowering events}, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12908 %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Poethke, Achim %A Holzschuh, Andrea %D 2018 %J Journal of Animal Ecology %R 10.1111/1365-2656.12908 %T Explaining the variability in the response of annual eusocial insects to mass-flowering events %U https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2656.12908 %X Abstract Empirical studies of annual eusocial insects in agricultural landscapes report contrasting findings with regard to colony responses to mass-flowering of crops such as oilseed rape. In particular, total sexual production is often unaffected by such events, whereas worker number responds with a prominent increase. To resolve these conflicting observations, we model—using an established approach—the expected change in worker and sexual numbers in response to an increased worker productivity induced by mass-flowering events at different times of the season. We find that the predicted response pattern is mainly shaped by the degree to which individual worker productivity is reduced by an increasing number of workers in the colony. Different environmental conditions and colony characteristics result in different levels of interference of workers, for example, during foraging or nest construction. Reduction in individual productivity is low, when worker interference is negligible (“weak limitation”) and high when an increasing number of workers substantially decreases per-capita efficiency (“strong limitation”). For weak limitation, any mass-flowering event that ends before the production of sexuals starts has a strong multiplicative impact on both worker and sexual numbers. The magnitude of the effect is quite independent of the precise timing of such an event. After the onset of sexual production, mass-flowering has a weaker effect, as the added resource supply is only linearly transferred into production of additional sexuals. For colonies under strong limitation, the predicted impact of mass-flowering events is generally weaker, especially on the production of sexuals, and the timing of mass-flowering events becomes more influential: Production of sexuals profits more from late than from early mass-flowering events. Consequently, early mass-flowering events are predicted to have a prominent effect on worker numbers but a negligible one on the output of sexuals. The model presented provides a mechanistic explanation of why increased worker abundances do not necessarily translate into increased production of sexuals. The model is also applicable to other eusocial insects such as paper wasps whenever brief pulses of massive resource availability shortly elevate resource intake rates above the “normal” levels.
• Maternal Effects in a Wild Songbird Are Environmentally Plastic but Only Marginally Alter the Rate of Adaptation Ramakers, Jip J. C.; Cobben, Marleen M. P.; Bijma, Piter; Reed, Thomas E.; Visser, Marcel E.; Gienapp, Phillip in The American Naturalist (2018). 191(5)
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  @article{ramakers2018maternal, abstract = {Despite ample evidence for the presence of maternal effects (MEs) in a variety of traits and strong theoretical indications for their evolutionary consequences, empirical evidence to what extent MEs can influence evolutionary responses to selection remains ambiguous. We tested the degree to which MEs can alter the rate of adaptation of a key life-history trait, clutch size, using an individual-based model approach parameterized with experimental data from a long-term study of great tits (Parus major). We modeled two types of MEs: (i) an environmentally plastic ME, in which the relationship between maternal and offspring clutch size depended on the maternal environment via offspring condition, and (ii) a fixed ME, in which this relationship was constant. Although both types of ME affected the rate of adaptation following an abrupt environmental shift, the overall effects were small. We conclude that evolutionary consequences of MEs are modest at best in our study system, at least for the trait and the particular type of ME we considered here. A closer link between theoretical and empirical work on MEs would hence be useful to obtain accurate predictions about the evolutionary consequences of MEs more generally.}, author = {Ramakers, Jip J. C. and Cobben, Marleen M. P. and Bijma, Piter and Reed, Thomas E. and Visser, Marcel E. and Gienapp, Phillip}, journal = {The American Naturalist}, keywords = {quantitative_genetics}, month = 3, number = 5, title = {Maternal Effects in a Wild Songbird Are Environmentally Plastic but Only Marginally Alter the Rate of Adaptation}, volume = 191, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 ramakers2018maternal %A Ramakers, Jip J. C. %A Cobben, Marleen M. P. %A Bijma, Piter %A Reed, Thomas E. %A Visser, Marcel E. %A Gienapp, Phillip %D 2018 %J The American Naturalist %N 5 %R https://doi.org/10.1086/696847 %T Maternal Effects in a Wild Songbird Are Environmentally Plastic but Only Marginally Alter the Rate of Adaptation %V 191 %X Despite ample evidence for the presence of maternal effects (MEs) in a variety of traits and strong theoretical indications for their evolutionary consequences, empirical evidence to what extent MEs can influence evolutionary responses to selection remains ambiguous. We tested the degree to which MEs can alter the rate of adaptation of a key life-history trait, clutch size, using an individual-based model approach parameterized with experimental data from a long-term study of great tits (Parus major). We modeled two types of MEs: (i) an environmentally plastic ME, in which the relationship between maternal and offspring clutch size depended on the maternal environment via offspring condition, and (ii) a fixed ME, in which this relationship was constant. Although both types of ME affected the rate of adaptation following an abrupt environmental shift, the overall effects were small. We conclude that evolutionary consequences of MEs are modest at best in our study system, at least for the trait and the particular type of ME we considered here. A closer link between theoretical and empirical work on MEs would hence be useful to obtain accurate predictions about the evolutionary consequences of MEs more generally.
• Overwintering temperature and body condition shift emergence dates of spring-emerging solitary bees Schenk, Mariela; Mitesser, Oliver; Hovestadt, Thomas; Holzschuh, Andrea in PeerJ (2018). 6 e4721.
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  @article{Schenk_2018, author = {Schenk, Mariela and Mitesser, Oliver and Hovestadt, Thomas and Holzschuh, Andrea}, journal = {{PeerJ}}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {may}, pages = {e4721}, publisher = {{PeerJ}}, title = {Overwintering temperature and body condition shift emergence dates of spring-emerging solitary bees}, volume = 6, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Schenk_2018 %A Schenk, Mariela %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Holzschuh, Andrea %D 2018 %I PeerJ %J PeerJ %P e4721 %R 10.7717/peerj.4721 %T Overwintering temperature and body condition shift emergence dates of spring-emerging solitary bees %U https://doi.org/10.7717%2Fpeerj.4721 %V 6
• Lifelong foraging and individual specialisation are influenced by temporal changes of resource availability Szigeti, Viktor; KHo}}rösi, Ádám; Harnos, Andrea; Kis, János in Oikos (2018). 128(5) 649–658.
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  @article{Szigeti_2018, author = {Szigeti, Viktor and K{\H{o}}rösi, {\'{A}}d{\'{a}}m and Harnos, Andrea and Kis, J{\'{a}}nos}, journal = {Oikos}, keywords = {foraging}, month = {nov}, number = 5, pages = {649–658}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {Lifelong foraging and individual specialisation are influenced by temporal changes of resource availability}, volume = 128, year = 2018 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Szigeti_2018 %A Szigeti, Viktor %A KHo}}rösi, Ádám %A Harnos, Andrea %A Kis, János %D 2018 %I Wiley %J Oikos %N 5 %P 649--658 %R 10.1111/oik.05400 %T Lifelong foraging and individual specialisation are influenced by temporal changes of resource availability %U https://doi.org/10.1111%2Foik.05400 %V 128

• Evolving mutation rate advances the invasion speed of a sexual species Cobben, Marleen M. P.; Mitesser, Oliver; Kubisch, Alexander in BMC Evolutionary Biology (2017). 17(150) 1–10.
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  @article{cobben2017evolving, abstract = {Background: Many species are shifting their ranges in response to global climate change. Range expansions are known to have profound effects on the genetic composition of populations. The evolution of dispersal during range expansion increases invasion speed, provided that a species can adapt sufficiently fast to novel local conditions. Genetic diversity at the expanding range border is however depleted due to iterated founder effects. The surprising ability of colonizing species to adapt to novel conditions while being subjected to genetic bottlenecks is termed ‘the genetic paradox of invasive species’. Mutational processes have been argued to provide an explanation for this paradox. Mutation rates can evolve, under conditions that favor an increased rate of adaptation, by hitchhiking on beneficial mutations through induced linkage disequilibrium. Here we argue that spatial sorting, iterated founder events, and population structure benefit the build-up and maintenance of such linkage disequilibrium. We investigate if the evolution of mutation rates could play a role in explaining the ‘genetic paradox of invasive species’ for a sexually reproducing species colonizing a landscape of gradually changing conditions. Results: We use an individual-based model to show the evolutionary increase of mutation rates in sexual populations during range expansion, in coevolution with the dispersal probability. The observed evolution of mutation rate is adaptive and clearly advances invasion speed both through its effect on the evolution of dispersal probability, and the evolution of local adaptation. This also occurs under a variable temperature gradient, and under the assumption of 90% lethal mutations. Conclusions: In this study we show novel consequences of the particular genetic properties of populations under spatial disequilibrium, i.e. the coevolution of dispersal probability and mutation rate, even in a sexual species and under realistic spatial gradients, resulting in faster invasions. The evolution of mutation rates can therefore be added to the list of possible explanations for the ‘genetic paradox of invasive species’. We conclude that range expansions and the evolution of mutation rates are in a positive feedback loop, with possibly far-reaching ecological consequences concerning invasiveness and the adaptability of species to novel environmental conditions.}, author = {Cobben, Marleen M. P. and Mitesser, Oliver and Kubisch, Alexander}, journal = {BMC Evolutionary Biology}, keywords = {teegroup}, month = {jun}, number = 150, pages = {1-10}, title = {Evolving mutation rate advances the invasion speed of a sexual species}, volume = 17, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 cobben2017evolving %A Cobben, Marleen M. P. %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Kubisch, Alexander %D 2017 %J BMC Evolutionary Biology %N 150 %P 1-10 %R 10.1186/s12862-017-0998-8 %T Evolving mutation rate advances the invasion speed of a sexual species %V 17 %X Background: Many species are shifting their ranges in response to global climate change. Range expansions are known to have profound effects on the genetic composition of populations. The evolution of dispersal during range expansion increases invasion speed, provided that a species can adapt sufficiently fast to novel local conditions. Genetic diversity at the expanding range border is however depleted due to iterated founder effects. The surprising ability of colonizing species to adapt to novel conditions while being subjected to genetic bottlenecks is termed ‘the genetic paradox of invasive species’. Mutational processes have been argued to provide an explanation for this paradox. Mutation rates can evolve, under conditions that favor an increased rate of adaptation, by hitchhiking on beneficial mutations through induced linkage disequilibrium. Here we argue that spatial sorting, iterated founder events, and population structure benefit the build-up and maintenance of such linkage disequilibrium. We investigate if the evolution of mutation rates could play a role in explaining the ‘genetic paradox of invasive species’ for a sexually reproducing species colonizing a landscape of gradually changing conditions. Results: We use an individual-based model to show the evolutionary increase of mutation rates in sexual populations during range expansion, in coevolution with the dispersal probability. The observed evolution of mutation rate is adaptive and clearly advances invasion speed both through its effect on the evolution of dispersal probability, and the evolution of local adaptation. This also occurs under a variable temperature gradient, and under the assumption of 90% lethal mutations. Conclusions: In this study we show novel consequences of the particular genetic properties of populations under spatial disequilibrium, i.e. the coevolution of dispersal probability and mutation rate, even in a sexual species and under realistic spatial gradients, resulting in faster invasions. The evolution of mutation rates can therefore be added to the list of possible explanations for the ‘genetic paradox of invasive species’. We conclude that range expansions and the evolution of mutation rates are in a positive feedback loop, with possibly far-reaching ecological consequences concerning invasiveness and the adaptability of species to novel environmental conditions.
• Consequences of the genetic threshold model for observing partial migration under climate change scenarios Cobben, Marleen M. P.; van Noordwijk, Arie J. in Ecology and Evolution (2017). n/a-n/a.
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  @article{ECE3:ECE33357, abstract = {Migration is a widespread phenomenon across the animal kingdom as a response to seasonality in environmental conditions. Partially migratory populations are populations that consist of both migratory and residential individuals. Such populations are very common, yet their stability has long been debated. The inheritance of migratory activity is currently best described by the threshold model of quantitative genetics. The inclusion of such a genetic threshold model for migratory behavior leads to a stable zone in time and space of partially migratory populations under a wide range of demographic parameter values, when assuming stable environmental conditions and unlimited genetic diversity. Migratory species are expected to be particularly sensitive to global warming, as arrival at the breeding grounds might be increasingly mistimed as a result of the uncoupling of long-used cues and actual environmental conditions, with decreasing reproduction as a consequence. Here, we investigate the consequences for migratory behavior and the stability of partially migratory populations under five climate change scenarios and the assumption of a genetic threshold value for migratory behavior in an individual-based model. The results show a spatially and temporally stable zone of partially migratory populations after different lengths of time in all scenarios. In the scenarios in which the species expands its range from a particular set of starting populations, the genetic diversity and location at initialization determine the species’ colonization speed across the zone of partial migration and therefore across the entire landscape. Abruptly changing environmental conditions after model initialization never caused a qualitative change in phenotype distributions, or complete extinction. This suggests that climate change-induced shifts in species’ ranges as well as changes in survival probabilities and reproductive success can be met with flexibility in migratory behavior at the species level, which will reduce the risk of extinction.}, author = {Cobben, Marleen M. P. and van Noordwijk, Arie J.}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, keywords = {teegroup}, pages = {n/a–n/a}, title = {Consequences of the genetic threshold model for observing partial migration under climate change scenarios}, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 ECE3:ECE33357 %A Cobben, Marleen M. P. %A van Noordwijk, Arie J. %D 2017 %J Ecology and Evolution %P n/a--n/a %R 10.1002/ece3.3357 %T Consequences of the genetic threshold model for observing partial migration under climate change scenarios %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3357 %X Migration is a widespread phenomenon across the animal kingdom as a response to seasonality in environmental conditions. Partially migratory populations are populations that consist of both migratory and residential individuals. Such populations are very common, yet their stability has long been debated. The inheritance of migratory activity is currently best described by the threshold model of quantitative genetics. The inclusion of such a genetic threshold model for migratory behavior leads to a stable zone in time and space of partially migratory populations under a wide range of demographic parameter values, when assuming stable environmental conditions and unlimited genetic diversity. Migratory species are expected to be particularly sensitive to global warming, as arrival at the breeding grounds might be increasingly mistimed as a result of the uncoupling of long-used cues and actual environmental conditions, with decreasing reproduction as a consequence. Here, we investigate the consequences for migratory behavior and the stability of partially migratory populations under five climate change scenarios and the assumption of a genetic threshold value for migratory behavior in an individual-based model. The results show a spatially and temporally stable zone of partially migratory populations after different lengths of time in all scenarios. In the scenarios in which the species expands its range from a particular set of starting populations, the genetic diversity and location at initialization determine the species’ colonization speed across the zone of partial migration and therefore across the entire landscape. Abruptly changing environmental conditions after model initialization never caused a qualitative change in phenotype distributions, or complete extinction. This suggests that climate change-induced shifts in species’ ranges as well as changes in survival probabilities and reproductive success can be met with flexibility in migratory behavior at the species level, which will reduce the risk of extinction.
• Altered sex-specific mortality and female mating success: ecological effects and evolutionary responses Degen, Tobias; Hovestadt, Thomas; Mitesser, Oliver; Hölker, Franz in Ecosphere (2017). 8(5) e01820-n/a.
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  @article{ECS2:ECS21820, author = {Degen, Tobias and Hovestadt, Thomas and Mitesser, Oliver and Hölker, Franz}, journal = {Ecosphere}, keywords = {timing}, note = {e01820}, number = 5, pages = {e01820–n/a}, title = {Altered sex-specific mortality and female mating success: ecological effects and evolutionary responses}, volume = 8, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 ECS2:ECS21820 %A Degen, Tobias %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hölker, Franz %D 2017 %J Ecosphere %N 5 %P e01820--n/a %R 10.1002/ecs2.1820 %T Altered sex-specific mortality and female mating success: ecological effects and evolutionary responses %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1820 %V 8
• Saving the injured: Rescue behavior in the termite-hunting ant Megaponera analis Frank, Erik Thomas; Schmitt, Thomas; Hovestadt, Thomas; Mitesser, Oliver; Stiegler, Jonas; Linsenmair, Karl Eduard in Science Advances (2017). 3(4)
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  @article{Franke1602187, abstract = {Predators of highly defensive prey likely develop cost-reducing adaptations. The ant Megaponera analis is a specialized termite predator, solely raiding termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae (in this study, mostly colonies of Pseudocanthotermes sp.) at their foraging sites. The evolutionary arms race between termites and ants led to various defensive mechanisms in termites (for example, a caste specialized in fighting predators). Because M. analis incurs high injury/mortality risks when preying on termites, some risk-mitigating adaptations seem likely to have evolved. We show that a unique rescue behavior in M. analis, consisting of injured nestmates being carried back to the nest, reduces combat mortality. After a fight, injured ants are carried back by their nestmates; these ants have usually lost an extremity or have termites clinging to them and are able to recover within the nest. Injured ants that are forced experimentally to return without help, die in 32\% of the cases. Behavioral experiments show that two compounds, dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide, present in the mandibular gland reservoirs, trigger the rescue behavior. A model accounting for this rescue behavior identifies the drivers favoring its evolution and estimates that rescuing enables maintenance of a 28.7\% larger colony size. Our results are the first to explore experimentally the adaptive value of this form of rescue behavior focused on injured nestmates in social insects and help us to identify evolutionary drivers responsible for this type of behavior to evolve in animals.}, author = {Frank, Erik Thomas and Schmitt, Thomas and Hovestadt, Thomas and Mitesser, Oliver and Stiegler, Jonas and Linsenmair, Karl Eduard}, journal = {Science Advances}, keywords = {rescue}, number = 4, publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science}, title = {Saving the injured: Rescue behavior in the termite-hunting ant Megaponera analis}, volume = 3, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Franke1602187 %A Frank, Erik Thomas %A Schmitt, Thomas %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Stiegler, Jonas %A Linsenmair, Karl Eduard %D 2017 %I American Association for the Advancement of Science %J Science Advances %N 4 %R 10.1126/sciadv.1602187 %T Saving the injured: Rescue behavior in the termite-hunting ant Megaponera analis %U http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/4/e1602187 %V 3 %X Predators of highly defensive prey likely develop cost-reducing adaptations. The ant Megaponera analis is a specialized termite predator, solely raiding termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae (in this study, mostly colonies of Pseudocanthotermes sp.) at their foraging sites. The evolutionary arms race between termites and ants led to various defensive mechanisms in termites (for example, a caste specialized in fighting predators). Because M. analis incurs high injury/mortality risks when preying on termites, some risk-mitigating adaptations seem likely to have evolved. We show that a unique rescue behavior in M. analis, consisting of injured nestmates being carried back to the nest, reduces combat mortality. After a fight, injured ants are carried back by their nestmates; these ants have usually lost an extremity or have termites clinging to them and are able to recover within the nest. Injured ants that are forced experimentally to return without help, die in 32% of the cases. Behavioral experiments show that two compounds, dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide, present in the mandibular gland reservoirs, trigger the rescue behavior. A model accounting for this rescue behavior identifies the drivers favoring its evolution and estimates that rescuing enables maintenance of a 28.7% larger colony size. Our results are the first to explore experimentally the adaptive value of this form of rescue behavior focused on injured nestmates in social insects and help us to identify evolutionary drivers responsible for this type of behavior to evolve in animals.
• Transgenerational effects of mild heat in Arabidopsis thaliana show strong genotype specificity that is explained by climate at origin Groot, Maartje P.; Kubisch, Alexander; Ouborg, N. Joop; Pagel, Jörn; Schmid, Karl J.; Vergeer, Philippine; Lampei, Christian in New Phytologist (2017).
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  @article{NPH:NPH14642, abstract = {* Transgenerational environmental effects can trigger strong phenotypic variation. However, it is unclear how cues from different preceding generations interact. Also, little is known about the genetic variation for these life history traits. * Here, we present the effects of grandparental and parental mild heat, and their combination, on four traits of the third-generation phenotype of 14 Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. We tested for correlations of these effects with climate and constructed a conceptual model to identify the environmental conditions that favour the parental effect on flowering time. * We observed strong evidence for genotype-specific transgenerational effects. On average, A. thaliana accustomed to mild heat produced more seeds after two generations. Parental effects overruled grandparental effects in all traits except reproductive biomass. Flowering was generally accelerated by all transgenerational effects. Notably, the parental effect triggered earliest flowering in genotypes adapted to dry summers. Accordingly, this parental effect was favoured in the model when early summer heat terminated the growing season and environments were correlated across generations. * Our results suggest that A. thaliana can partly accustom to mild heat over two generations and genotype-specific parental effects show non-random evolutionary divergence across populations that may support climate change adaptation in the Mediterranean.}, author = {Groot, Maartje P. and Kubisch, Alexander and Ouborg, N. Joop and Pagel, Jörn and Schmid, Karl J. and Vergeer, Philippine and Lampei, Christian}, journal = {New Phytologist}, keywords = {teegroup}, title = {Transgenerational effects of mild heat in Arabidopsis thaliana show strong genotype specificity that is explained by climate at origin}, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 NPH:NPH14642 %A Groot, Maartje P. %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Ouborg, N. Joop %A Pagel, Jörn %A Schmid, Karl J. %A Vergeer, Philippine %A Lampei, Christian %D 2017 %J New Phytologist %R 10.1111/nph.14642 %T Transgenerational effects of mild heat in Arabidopsis thaliana show strong genotype specificity that is explained by climate at origin %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.14642 %X * Transgenerational environmental effects can trigger strong phenotypic variation. However, it is unclear how cues from different preceding generations interact. Also, little is known about the genetic variation for these life history traits. * Here, we present the effects of grandparental and parental mild heat, and their combination, on four traits of the third-generation phenotype of 14 Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. We tested for correlations of these effects with climate and constructed a conceptual model to identify the environmental conditions that favour the parental effect on flowering time. * We observed strong evidence for genotype-specific transgenerational effects. On average, A. thaliana accustomed to mild heat produced more seeds after two generations. Parental effects overruled grandparental effects in all traits except reproductive biomass. Flowering was generally accelerated by all transgenerational effects. Notably, the parental effect triggered earliest flowering in genotypes adapted to dry summers. Accordingly, this parental effect was favoured in the model when early summer heat terminated the growing season and environments were correlated across generations. * Our results suggest that A. thaliana can partly accustom to mild heat over two generations and genotype-specific parental effects show non-random evolutionary divergence across populations that may support climate change adaptation in the Mediterranean.
• Mating timing, dispersal and local adaptation in patchy environments Lakovic, Milica; Mitesser, Oliver; Hovestadt, Thomas in Oikos (2017).
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  @article{OIK:OIK4369, author = {Lakovic, Milica and Mitesser, Oliver and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Oikos}, keywords = {teegroup}, publisher = {Blackwell Publishing Ltd}, title = {Mating timing, dispersal and local adaptation in patchy environments}, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 OIK:OIK4369 %A Lakovic, Milica %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2017 %I Blackwell Publishing Ltd %J Oikos %R 10.1111/oik.04369 %T Mating timing, dispersal and local adaptation in patchy environments %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/oik.04369
• Potential for an Arctic-breeding migratory bird to adjust spring migration phenology to Arctic amplification Lameris, Thomas K.; Scholten, Ilse; Bauer, Silke; Cobben, Marleen M. P.; Ens, Bruno J.; Nolet, Bart A. in Global Change Biology (2017). 1–11.
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  @article{GCB:GCB13684, abstract = {Arctic amplification, the accelerated climate warming in the polar regions, is causing a more rapid advancement of the onset of spring in the Arctic than in temperate regions. Consequently, the arrival of many migratory birds in the Arctic is thought to become increasingly mismatched with the onset of local spring, consequently reducing individual fitness and potentially even population levels. We used a dynamic state variable model to study whether Arctic long-distance migrants can advance their migratory schedules under climate warming scenarios which include Arctic amplification, and whether such an advancement is constrained by fuel accumulation or the ability to anticipate climatic changes. Our model predicts that barnacle geese Branta leucopsis suffer from considerably reduced reproductive success with increasing Arctic amplification through mistimed arrival, when they cannot anticipate a more rapid progress of Arctic spring from their wintering grounds. When geese are able to anticipate a more rapid progress of Arctic spring, they are predicted to advance their spring arrival under Arctic amplification up to 44 days without any reproductive costs in terms of optimal condition or timing of breeding. Negative effects of mistimed arrival on reproduction are predicted to be somewhat mitigated by increasing summer length under warming in the Arctic, as late arriving geese can still breed successfully. We conclude that adaptation to Arctic amplification may rather be constrained by the (un)predictability of changes in the Arctic spring than by the time available for fuel accumulation. Social migrants like geese tend to have a high behavioural plasticity regarding stopover site choice and migration schedule, giving them the potential to adapt to future climate changes on their flyway.}, author = {Lameris, Thomas K. and Scholten, Ilse and Bauer, Silke and Cobben, Marleen M. P. and Ens, Bruno J. and Nolet, Bart A.}, journal = {Global Change Biology}, keywords = {global_change}, pages = {1-11}, title = {Potential for an Arctic-breeding migratory bird to adjust spring migration phenology to Arctic amplification}, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 GCB:GCB13684 %A Lameris, Thomas K. %A Scholten, Ilse %A Bauer, Silke %A Cobben, Marleen M. P. %A Ens, Bruno J. %A Nolet, Bart A. %D 2017 %J Global Change Biology %P 1-11 %R 10.1111/gcb.13684 %T Potential for an Arctic-breeding migratory bird to adjust spring migration phenology to Arctic amplification %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13684 %X Arctic amplification, the accelerated climate warming in the polar regions, is causing a more rapid advancement of the onset of spring in the Arctic than in temperate regions. Consequently, the arrival of many migratory birds in the Arctic is thought to become increasingly mismatched with the onset of local spring, consequently reducing individual fitness and potentially even population levels. We used a dynamic state variable model to study whether Arctic long-distance migrants can advance their migratory schedules under climate warming scenarios which include Arctic amplification, and whether such an advancement is constrained by fuel accumulation or the ability to anticipate climatic changes. Our model predicts that barnacle geese Branta leucopsis suffer from considerably reduced reproductive success with increasing Arctic amplification through mistimed arrival, when they cannot anticipate a more rapid progress of Arctic spring from their wintering grounds. When geese are able to anticipate a more rapid progress of Arctic spring, they are predicted to advance their spring arrival under Arctic amplification up to 44 days without any reproductive costs in terms of optimal condition or timing of breeding. Negative effects of mistimed arrival on reproduction are predicted to be somewhat mitigated by increasing summer length under warming in the Arctic, as late arriving geese can still breed successfully. We conclude that adaptation to Arctic amplification may rather be constrained by the (un)predictability of changes in the Arctic spring than by the time available for fuel accumulation. Social migrants like geese tend to have a high behavioural plasticity regarding stopover site choice and migration schedule, giving them the potential to adapt to future climate changes on their flyway.
• Landscapes, orchards, pesticides–Abundance of beetles (Coleoptera) in apple orchards along pesticide toxicity and landscape complexity gradients Markó, Viktor; Elek, Zoltán; Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó; Kőrösi, Ádám; Somay, László; Földesi, Rita; Varga, Ákos; Iván, Ágnes; Báldi, András in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (2017). 247 246–254.
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  @article{marko2017landscapes, abstract = {Landscape composition may influence biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural fields. Hitherto, most studies have focused on annual crops and the available information on the impacts of landscape structure in orchards is sparse. In this study, we evaluated the effects of pesticide use as cumulative toxicity on pest and predatory beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in the canopy of apple orchards surrounded by different proportion of semi-natural vegetation, crop fields and settlements in Hungary. Laboratory data suggest that increasing pesticide toxicity negatively affects predators (coccinellids), but we did not find such a pattern. Supposedly, the effect of pesticides was masked by the continuous recolonisation of orchards from the surrounding landscape. On the contrary, for the less mobile pest species [Anthonomus pomorum, Phyllobius oblongus (Curculionidae)] we did find a decline in abundance along the gradient of increasing pesticide toxicity. Landscape composition around the orchards significantly influenced the abundance of predatory, fungivorous and tourist species, but had no effect on pests. Contrary to expectations, however, semi-natural habitats had a minor effect compared to arable fields, orchards and settlements which habitat types had various effects on the abundance of different coleopteran groups and species. For example, Harmonia axyridis (Coccinellidae) abundance was positively affected by its overwintering sites, i.e. human settlements in spring, semi-natural forests in summer, and arable fields in autumn. The mass immigration of other predatory, fungivorous and tourist species from the surrounding arable fields into the orchards started from July with senescence and harvesting of arable crops. These results suggest that arable fields, other orchards and settlements might be more important sources of colonisation for natural enemies in orchards than certain semi-natural habitats.}, author = {Markó, Viktor and Elek, Zoltán and Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó and Kőrösi, Ádám and Somay, László and Földesi, Rita and Varga, Ákos and Iván, Ágnes and Báldi, András}, journal = {Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment}, keywords = {Pest_control}, pages = {246-254}, title = {Landscapes, orchards, pesticides–Abundance of beetles (Coleoptera) in apple orchards along pesticide toxicity and landscape complexity gradients}, volume = 247, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 marko2017landscapes %A Markó, Viktor %A Elek, Zoltán %A Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Somay, László %A Földesi, Rita %A Varga, Ákos %A Iván, Ágnes %A Báldi, András %D 2017 %J Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment %P 246-254 %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.06.038 %T Landscapes, orchards, pesticides–Abundance of beetles (Coleoptera) in apple orchards along pesticide toxicity and landscape complexity gradients %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917302815 %V 247 %X Landscape composition may influence biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural fields. Hitherto, most studies have focused on annual crops and the available information on the impacts of landscape structure in orchards is sparse. In this study, we evaluated the effects of pesticide use as cumulative toxicity on pest and predatory beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in the canopy of apple orchards surrounded by different proportion of semi-natural vegetation, crop fields and settlements in Hungary. Laboratory data suggest that increasing pesticide toxicity negatively affects predators (coccinellids), but we did not find such a pattern. Supposedly, the effect of pesticides was masked by the continuous recolonisation of orchards from the surrounding landscape. On the contrary, for the less mobile pest species [Anthonomus pomorum, Phyllobius oblongus (Curculionidae)] we did find a decline in abundance along the gradient of increasing pesticide toxicity. Landscape composition around the orchards significantly influenced the abundance of predatory, fungivorous and tourist species, but had no effect on pests. Contrary to expectations, however, semi-natural habitats had a minor effect compared to arable fields, orchards and settlements which habitat types had various effects on the abundance of different coleopteran groups and species. For example, Harmonia axyridis (Coccinellidae) abundance was positively affected by its overwintering sites, i.e. human settlements in spring, semi-natural forests in summer, and arable fields in autumn. The mass immigration of other predatory, fungivorous and tourist species from the surrounding arable fields into the orchards started from July with senescence and harvesting of arable crops. These results suggest that arable fields, other orchards and settlements might be more important sources of colonisation for natural enemies in orchards than certain semi-natural habitats.
• The evolution of simultaneous progressive provisioning revisited: extending the model to overlapping generations Mitesser, Oliver; Poethke, Hans-Joachim; Strohm, Erhard; Hovestadt, Thomas in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2017). 71(8) 127.
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  @article{Mitesser2017, abstract = {``Simultaneous progressive provisioners'' feed their offspring gradually as they develop—and typically feed more than one offspring simultaneously (SIM) at a time. In contrast, ``sequential mass provisioners'' supply offspring one after another (SEQ). Utilizing individual-based simulations, Field (Nature 404:869–871, 2005) compared the lifetime reproductive success of these strategies in different scenarios. Accordingly, SEQ should evolve in the majority of cases—SIM only has an evolutionary benefit if offspring depend on their mothers' protection until adulthood even past the provisioning period. However, this is only one potential explanation for the evolution of SIM. Here, we present an alternative mechanism for solitary individuals with overlapping generations. We propose an analytical model (comprising Field's former approach) utilizing growth rate instead of lifetime reproductive success as a measure of fitness. Our model shows that multiplicative geometric effects on fitness would typically compensate for the demographic disadvantages of SIM (due to prolonged dependency) and consequently support the evolution of SIM over SEQ for a wide range of life history parameters. The optimal level of SIM (i.e., the optimal number of eggs laid simultaneously) is determined by offspring development time, survival rates, and foraging efficiency of the mother. Only extreme values of these demographic parameters would favor a transition to SEQ behavior. Our model provides a coherent explanation of selective favoring of SIM over SEQ that may also contribute to understanding why SIM is the dominant strategy among social insect species.}, author = {Mitesser, Oliver and Poethke, Hans-Joachim and Strohm, Erhard and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology}, keywords = {teegroup}, month = {jul}, number = 8, pages = 127, title = {The evolution of simultaneous progressive provisioning revisited: extending the model to overlapping generations}, volume = 71, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 Mitesser2017 %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %A Strohm, Erhard %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2017 %J Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology %N 8 %P 127 %R 10.1007/s00265-017-2355-8 %T The evolution of simultaneous progressive provisioning revisited: extending the model to overlapping generations %U https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-017-2355-8 %V 71 %X ``Simultaneous progressive provisioners'' feed their offspring gradually as they develop---and typically feed more than one offspring simultaneously (SIM) at a time. In contrast, ``sequential mass provisioners'' supply offspring one after another (SEQ). Utilizing individual-based simulations, Field (Nature 404:869--871, 2005) compared the lifetime reproductive success of these strategies in different scenarios. Accordingly, SEQ should evolve in the majority of cases---SIM only has an evolutionary benefit if offspring depend on their mothers' protection until adulthood even past the provisioning period. However, this is only one potential explanation for the evolution of SIM. Here, we present an alternative mechanism for solitary individuals with overlapping generations. We propose an analytical model (comprising Field's former approach) utilizing growth rate instead of lifetime reproductive success as a measure of fitness. Our model shows that multiplicative geometric effects on fitness would typically compensate for the demographic disadvantages of SIM (due to prolonged dependency) and consequently support the evolution of SIM over SEQ for a wide range of life history parameters. The optimal level of SIM (i.e., the optimal number of eggs laid simultaneously) is determined by offspring development time, survival rates, and foraging efficiency of the mother. Only extreme values of these demographic parameters would favor a transition to SEQ behavior. Our model provides a coherent explanation of selective favoring of SIM over SEQ that may also contribute to understanding why SIM is the dominant strategy among social insect species.
• Population demography of the endangered large blue butterfly Maculinea arion in Europe Osváth-Ferencz, Márta; Bonelli, Simona; Nowicki, Piotr; Peregovits, László; Rákosy, László; Sielezniew, Marcin; Kostro-Ambroziak, Agata; Dziekańska, Izabela; Kőrösi, Ádám in Journal of Insect Conservation (2017). 21(3) 411–422.
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  @article{osvathferencz2017population, abstract = {Demographic parameters such as survival, sex ratio and abundance can profoundly affect the viability of populations and thus are of primary importance in species of conservation concern. Although numerous studies have been published on certain aspects of the ecology and evolution of the endangered Large Blue butterfly Maculinea arion, there is still a lack of detailed knowledge on its populations’ demography. Moreover, M. arion populates a variety of xerothermic habitats throughout its European range using various food plants and host ants, which leads to complications in its conservation. Our aim was to estimate demographic parameters of M. arion populations in different parts of its European range. Detailed mark-recapture sampling was conducted on populations in four different countries. We often found that daily apparent survival probability declined with increasing age of individuals, but there was no difference between male and female survival. In smaller populations, the sex ratio was rather female-biased. Our most interesting result was the lack of protandry in some populations that might be a consequence of selection against reproductive asynchrony in small populations or a polyandrous mating system. The perfect coincidence of male and female phenology can positively affect the effective population size, because the lack of reproductive asynchrony increases the chance of male–female encounters. Abundance of the studied populations ranged between 100 and 1,600 individuals, smaller populations were on the verge of extinction. Habitat of the threatened small populations was either overgrazed or abandoned, while habitat of larger, stable populations was lightly grazed.}, author = {Osváth-Ferencz, Márta and Bonelli, Simona and Nowicki, Piotr and Peregovits, László and Rákosy, László and Sielezniew, Marcin and Kostro-Ambroziak, Agata and Dziekańska, Izabela and Kőrösi, Ádám}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, keywords = {Sex-ratio}, number = 3, pages = {411-422}, title = {Population demography of the endangered large blue butterfly Maculinea arion in Europe}, volume = 21, year = 2017 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 osvathferencz2017population %A Osváth-Ferencz, Márta %A Bonelli, Simona %A Nowicki, Piotr %A Peregovits, László %A Rákosy, László %A Sielezniew, Marcin %A Kostro-Ambroziak, Agata %A Dziekańska, Izabela %A Kőrösi, Ádám %D 2017 %J Journal of Insect Conservation %N 3 %P 411-422 %R doi:10.1007/s10841-016-9944-0 %T Population demography of the endangered large blue butterfly Maculinea arion in Europe %U https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-016-9944-0 %V 21 %X Demographic parameters such as survival, sex ratio and abundance can profoundly affect the viability of populations and thus are of primary importance in species of conservation concern. Although numerous studies have been published on certain aspects of the ecology and evolution of the endangered Large Blue butterfly Maculinea arion, there is still a lack of detailed knowledge on its populations’ demography. Moreover, M. arion populates a variety of xerothermic habitats throughout its European range using various food plants and host ants, which leads to complications in its conservation. Our aim was to estimate demographic parameters of M. arion populations in different parts of its European range. Detailed mark-recapture sampling was conducted on populations in four different countries. We often found that daily apparent survival probability declined with increasing age of individuals, but there was no difference between male and female survival. In smaller populations, the sex ratio was rather female-biased. Our most interesting result was the lack of protandry in some populations that might be a consequence of selection against reproductive asynchrony in small populations or a polyandrous mating system. The perfect coincidence of male and female phenology can positively affect the effective population size, because the lack of reproductive asynchrony increases the chance of male–female encounters. Abundance of the studied populations ranged between 100 and 1,600 individuals, smaller populations were on the verge of extinction. Habitat of the threatened small populations was either overgrazed or abandoned, while habitat of larger, stable populations was lightly grazed.

• Street lighting: sex-independent impacts on moth movement Degen, Tobias; Mitesser, Oliver; Perkin, Elizabeth K.; Weiß, Nina-Sophie; Oehlert, Martin; Mattig, Emily; Hölker, Franz in Journal of Animal Ecology (2016). 85 1352–1360.
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  @article{degen_street_2016, abstract = {* Artificial lights have become an integral and welcome part of our urban and peri-urban environments. However, recent research has highlighted the potentially negative ecological consequences of ubiquitous artificial light. In particular, insects, especially moths, are expected to be negatively impacted by the presence of artificial lights. Previous research with light traps has shown a male-biased attraction to light in moths. * In this study, we sought to determine whether street lights could limit moth dispersal and whether there was any sex bias in attraction to light. More specifically, we aimed to determine sex-specific attraction radii for moths to street lights. * We tested these hypotheses by collecting moths for 2 years at an experimental set-up. To estimate the attraction radii, we developed a Markov model and related it to the acquired data. * Utilizing multinomial statistics, we found that attraction rates to lights in the middle of the matrix were substantially lower than predicted by the null hypothesis of equal attraction level (0·44 times). With the Markov model, we estimated that a corner light was 2·77 times more attractive than a wing light with an equivalentre attraction radius of c. 23 m around each light. We found neither sexual differences in the attraction rate nor in the attraction radius of males and females. Since we captured three times more males than females, we conclude that sex ratios are representative of operational sex ratios or of different flight activities. * These results provide evidence for street lights to limit moth dispersal, and that they seem to act equally on male and female moths. Consequently, public lighting might divide a suitable landscape into many small habitats. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume (i) that public lighting near hedges and bushes or field margins reduces the quality of these important habitat structures and (ii) that public lighting may affect moth movement between patches.}, author = {Degen, Tobias and Mitesser, Oliver and Perkin, Elizabeth K. and Weiß, Nina-Sophie and Oehlert, Martin and Mattig, Emily and Hölker, Franz}, journal = {Journal of Animal Ecology}, keywords = {urbanization}, month = {jun}, pages = {1352–1360}, title = {Street lighting: sex-independent impacts on moth movement}, volume = 85, year = 2016 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 degen_street_2016 %A Degen, Tobias %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Perkin, Elizabeth K. %A Weiß, Nina-Sophie %A Oehlert, Martin %A Mattig, Emily %A Hölker, Franz %D 2016 %J Journal of Animal Ecology %P 1352--1360 %R 10.1111/1365-2656.12540 %T Street lighting: sex-independent impacts on moth movement %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2656.12540/abstract %V 85 %X * Artificial lights have become an integral and welcome part of our urban and peri-urban environments. However, recent research has highlighted the potentially negative ecological consequences of ubiquitous artificial light. In particular, insects, especially moths, are expected to be negatively impacted by the presence of artificial lights. Previous research with light traps has shown a male-biased attraction to light in moths. * In this study, we sought to determine whether street lights could limit moth dispersal and whether there was any sex bias in attraction to light. More specifically, we aimed to determine sex-specific attraction radii for moths to street lights. * We tested these hypotheses by collecting moths for 2 years at an experimental set-up. To estimate the attraction radii, we developed a Markov model and related it to the acquired data. * Utilizing multinomial statistics, we found that attraction rates to lights in the middle of the matrix were substantially lower than predicted by the null hypothesis of equal attraction level (0·44 times). With the Markov model, we estimated that a corner light was 2·77 times more attractive than a wing light with an equivalentre attraction radius of c. 23 m around each light. We found neither sexual differences in the attraction rate nor in the attraction radius of males and females. Since we captured three times more males than females, we conclude that sex ratios are representative of operational sex ratios or of different flight activities. * These results provide evidence for street lights to limit moth dispersal, and that they seem to act equally on male and female moths. Consequently, public lighting might divide a suitable landscape into many small habitats. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume (i) that public lighting near hedges and bushes or field margins reduces the quality of these important habitat structures and (ii) that public lighting may affect moth movement between patches.
• The evolution of optimal emergence times: Bet hedging and the quest for an ideal free temporal distribution of individuals Poethke, Hans Joachim; Hovestadt, Thomas; Mitesser, Oliver in Oikos (2016).
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  @article{poethke_evolution_2016, author = {Poethke, Hans Joachim and Hovestadt, Thomas and Mitesser, Oliver}, journal = {Oikos}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, note = {submitted 2015/06/05}, title = {The evolution of optimal emergence times: {Bet} hedging and the quest for an ideal free temporal distribution of individuals}, year = 2016 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 poethke_evolution_2016 %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Mitesser, Oliver %D 2016 %J Oikos %R 10.1111/oik.03213 %T The evolution of optimal emergence times: Bet hedging and the quest for an ideal free temporal distribution of individuals %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/oik.03213/abstract
• The evolution of density-dependent dispersal under limited information Poethke, Hans Joachim; Kubisch, Alexander; Mitesser, Oliver; Hovestadt, Thomas in Ecological Modelling (2016). 338 1–10.
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  @article{poethke_evolution_2016-1, author = {Poethke, Hans Joachim and Kubisch, Alexander and Mitesser, Oliver and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Ecological Modelling}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {oct}, pages = {1–10}, title = {The evolution of density-dependent dispersal under limited information}, volume = 338, year = 2016 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 poethke_evolution_2016-1 %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2016 %J Ecological Modelling %P 1--10 %T The evolution of density-dependent dispersal under limited information %U http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0304380016302654 %V 338
• Evaluating alternative mowing regimes for conservation management of Central European mesic hay meadows: A field experiment Szépligeti, M.; Kőrösi, Ádám; Szentirmai, I.; Házi, J.; Bartha, D.; Bartha, S. in Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology (2016). 1–8.
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  @article{szepligeti2016evaluating, abstract = {Conservation status of hay meadows highly depends on their management. The main goal of this study was to assess the efficiency of different mowing regimes in maintenance of plant species richness and diversity of mesic hay meadows. The field experiment was carried out on a species rich, mesic hay meadow in Western Hungary. We evaluated the effects of four alternative types of management on the plant community after 7 years of continuous treatment: (1) mowing twice a year, typical traditional management, (2) mowing once a year in May, most practised currently by local farmers, (3) mowing once a year in September, often proposed for conservation management and (4) abandonment of mowing. Traditional mowing resulted in significantly higher number and higher diversity of vascular plant species than other mowing regimes. Mowing twice a year was the only efficient way to control the spread of the invasive Solidago gigantea, and mowing in September was more successful in it than mowing in May. We conclude that the traditional mowing regime is the most suitable to maintain botanical diversity of mesic hay meadows; however, other regimes should also be considered if certain priority species are targeted by conservation.}, author = {Szépligeti, M. and Kőrösi, Ádám and Szentirmai, I. and Házi, J. and Bartha, D. and Bartha, S.}, journal = {Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology}, keywords = {temperate_mesic_grasslands}, month = {nov}, pages = {1-8}, title = {Evaluating alternative mowing regimes for conservation management of Central European mesic hay meadows: A field experiment}, year = 2016 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 szepligeti2016evaluating %A Szépligeti, M. %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Szentirmai, I. %A Házi, J. %A Bartha, D. %A Bartha, S. %D 2016 %J Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology %P 1-8 %R http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2016.1255268 %T Evaluating alternative mowing regimes for conservation management of Central European mesic hay meadows: A field experiment %U http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/11263504.2016.1255268 %X Conservation status of hay meadows highly depends on their management. The main goal of this study was to assess the efficiency of different mowing regimes in maintenance of plant species richness and diversity of mesic hay meadows. The field experiment was carried out on a species rich, mesic hay meadow in Western Hungary. We evaluated the effects of four alternative types of management on the plant community after 7 years of continuous treatment: (1) mowing twice a year, typical traditional management, (2) mowing once a year in May, most practised currently by local farmers, (3) mowing once a year in September, often proposed for conservation management and (4) abandonment of mowing. Traditional mowing resulted in significantly higher number and higher diversity of vascular plant species than other mowing regimes. Mowing twice a year was the only efficient way to control the spread of the invasive Solidago gigantea, and mowing in September was more successful in it than mowing in May. We conclude that the traditional mowing regime is the most suitable to maintain botanical diversity of mesic hay meadows; however, other regimes should also be considered if certain priority species are targeted by conservation.
• Comparing two methods for estimating floral resource availability for insect pollinators in semi-natural habitats. Szigeti, Viktor; Kőrösi, Ádám; Harnos, Andrea; Nagy, János; Kis, János in Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.) (2016). 52(5) 289–299.
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  @article{szigeti2016comparing, abstract = {Pollinator and flowering plant interactions play a critical role in maintaining most terrestrial ecosystems, including agroecosystems. Although estimates of floral resource availability are essential to understand plant–pollinator relationships, no generally accepted methodology exists to date. We compared two methods for sampling floral resources in a single meadow. About every three days, we recorded species lists of insect-pollinated plants with abundance categories assigned to each species (hereafter referred to as scanning) and we counted the flowering shoots in 36 2 × 2 m quadrats (hereafter quadrat sampling). These methods were compared with respect to (i) the number of species detected, (ii) estimated floral resource abundance, and (iii) temporal changes in flowering. With scanning, we found more potential nectar-plant species and species were found earlier than with quadrat sampling. With the latter, abundant species were found with higher probability than the scarce. Flower abundances were correlated between the two methods. We predicted that a cover of 6.3 ± 3.6% should be used for an appropriate estimate of flower abundance in our study site, although the optimal cover probably varies across different habitats. Furthermore, flower abundance changed 6% per day compared to the flowering peak. Overall, scanning seems to be more appropriate for detecting presence and the timing of species, while quadrats may provide higher resolution for abundance estimates. Increased sampling coverage and frequency may enhance research accuracy and using scanning and quadrat sampling simultaneously may help to optimize research effort. We encourage further development of sampling protocols.}, author = {Szigeti, Viktor and Kőrösi, Ádám and Harnos, Andrea and Nagy, János and Kis, János}, journal = {Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.)}, keywords = {vegetation_sampling_methods}, number = 5, pages = {289-299}, title = {Comparing two methods for estimating floral resource availability for insect pollinators in semi-natural habitats.}, volume = 52, year = 2016 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 szigeti2016comparing %A Szigeti, Viktor %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Harnos, Andrea %A Nagy, János %A Kis, János %D 2016 %J Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.) %N 5 %P 289-299 %R http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2016.1261003 %T Comparing two methods for estimating floral resource availability for insect pollinators in semi-natural habitats. %U http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00379271.2016.1261003 %V 52 %X Pollinator and flowering plant interactions play a critical role in maintaining most terrestrial ecosystems, including agroecosystems. Although estimates of floral resource availability are essential to understand plant–pollinator relationships, no generally accepted methodology exists to date. We compared two methods for sampling floral resources in a single meadow. About every three days, we recorded species lists of insect-pollinated plants with abundance categories assigned to each species (hereafter referred to as scanning) and we counted the flowering shoots in 36 2 × 2 m quadrats (hereafter quadrat sampling). These methods were compared with respect to (i) the number of species detected, (ii) estimated floral resource abundance, and (iii) temporal changes in flowering. With scanning, we found more potential nectar-plant species and species were found earlier than with quadrat sampling. With the latter, abundant species were found with higher probability than the scarce. Flower abundances were correlated between the two methods. We predicted that a cover of 6.3 ± 3.6% should be used for an appropriate estimate of flower abundance in our study site, although the optimal cover probably varies across different habitats. Furthermore, flower abundance changed 6% per day compared to the flowering peak. Overall, scanning seems to be more appropriate for detecting presence and the timing of species, while quadrats may provide higher resolution for abundance estimates. Increased sampling coverage and frequency may enhance research accuracy and using scanning and quadrat sampling simultaneously may help to optimize research effort. We encourage further development of sampling protocols.
• Measuring floral resource availability for insect pollinators in temperate grasslands - a review: Measuring floral resource availability Szigeti, Viktor; Kőrösi, Ádám; Harnos, Andrea; Nagy, JáNos; Kis, JáNos in Ecological Entomology (2016). 41(3) 231–240.
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  @article{szigeti_measuring_2016, author = {Szigeti, Viktor and Kőrösi, Ádám and Harnos, Andrea and Nagy, JáNos and Kis, JáNos}, journal = {Ecological Entomology}, keywords = {imported}, month = {jun}, number = 3, pages = {231–240}, title = {Measuring floral resource availability for insect pollinators in temperate grasslands - a review: {Measuring} floral resource availability}, volume = 41, year = 2016 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 szigeti_measuring_2016 %A Szigeti, Viktor %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Harnos, Andrea %A Nagy, JáNos %A Kis, JáNos %D 2016 %J Ecological Entomology %N 3 %P 231--240 %R 10.1111/een.12298 %T Measuring floral resource availability for insect pollinators in temperate grasslands - a review: Measuring floral resource availability %U http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/een.12298 %V 41
• Explicitly solvable bilinear optimal control problems with applications in ecology Verriest, Erik I.; Dirr, Gunther; Helmke, Uwe; Mitesser, Oliver in Proceedings of the 22nd International Symposium on Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems, T. T. Georgiou (ed.) (2016). 538–541.
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  @inproceedings{verriest2016explicitly, author = {Verriest, Erik I. and Dirr, Gunther and Helmke, Uwe and Mitesser, Oliver}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 22nd International Symposium on Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems}, editor = {Georgiou, Tryphon T.}, keywords = {teegroup}, organization = {University of Minnesota}, pages = {538-541}, publisher = {University of Minnesota}, title = {Explicitly solvable bilinear optimal control problems with applications in ecology}, year = 2016 }

  %0 Conference Paper %1 verriest2016explicitly %A Verriest, Erik I. %A Dirr, Gunther %A Helmke, Uwe %A Mitesser, Oliver %B Proceedings of the 22nd International Symposium on Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems %D 2016 %E Georgiou, Tryphon T. %I University of Minnesota %P 538-541 %T Explicitly solvable bilinear optimal control problems with applications in ecology %U http://hdl.handle.net/11299/181518

• High female survival promotes evolution of protogyny and sexual conflict Degen, Tobias; Hovestadt, Thomas; Mitesser, Oliver; Hölker, Franz in PLoS ONE (2015). 10(3) e0118354.
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  @article{degen_high_2015, abstract = {Existing models explaining the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the timing of emergence (SDT) in Lepidoptera assume equal mortality rates for males and females. The limiting assumption of equal mortality rates has the consequence that these models are only able to explain the evolution of emergence of males before females, i.e. protandry—the more common temporal sequence of emergence in Lepidoptera. The models fail, however, in providing adaptive explanations for the evolution of protogyny, where females emerge before males, but protogyny is not rare in insects. The assumption of equal mortality rates seems too restrictive for many insects, such as butterflies. To investigate the influence of unequal mortality rates on the evolution of SDT, we present a generalised version of a previously published model where we relax this assumption. We find that longer life-expectancy of females compared to males can indeed favour the evolution of protogyny as a fitness enhancing strategy. Moreover, the encounter rate between females and males and the sex-ratio are two important factors that also influence the evolution of optimal SDT. If considered independently for females and males the predicted strategies can be shown to be evolutionarily stable (ESS). Under the assumption of equal mortality rates the difference between the females’ and males’ ESS remains typically very small. However, female and male ESS may be quite dissimilar if mortality rates are different. This creates the potential for an ‘evolutionary conflict’ between females and males. Bagworm moths (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) provide an exemplary case where life-history attributes are such that protogyny should indeed be the optimal emergence strategy from the males’ and females’ perspectives: (i) Female longevity is considerably larger than that of males, (ii) encounter rates between females and males are presumably low, and (iii) females mate only once. Protogyny is indeed the general mating strategy found in the bagworm family.}, author = {Degen, Tobias and Hovestadt, Thomas and Mitesser, Oliver and Hölker, Franz}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, number = 3, pages = {e0118354}, title = {High female survival promotes evolution of protogyny and sexual conflict}, volume = 10, year = 2015 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 degen_high_2015 %A Degen, Tobias %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hölker, Franz %D 2015 %J PLoS ONE %N 3 %P e0118354 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0118354 %T High female survival promotes evolution of protogyny and sexual conflict %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4361667/ %V 10 %X Existing models explaining the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the timing of emergence (SDT) in Lepidoptera assume equal mortality rates for males and females. The limiting assumption of equal mortality rates has the consequence that these models are only able to explain the evolution of emergence of males before females, i.e. protandry—the more common temporal sequence of emergence in Lepidoptera. The models fail, however, in providing adaptive explanations for the evolution of protogyny, where females emerge before males, but protogyny is not rare in insects. The assumption of equal mortality rates seems too restrictive for many insects, such as butterflies. To investigate the influence of unequal mortality rates on the evolution of SDT, we present a generalised version of a previously published model where we relax this assumption. We find that longer life-expectancy of females compared to males can indeed favour the evolution of protogyny as a fitness enhancing strategy. Moreover, the encounter rate between females and males and the sex-ratio are two important factors that also influence the evolution of optimal SDT. If considered independently for females and males the predicted strategies can be shown to be evolutionarily stable (ESS). Under the assumption of equal mortality rates the difference between the females’ and males’ ESS remains typically very small. However, female and male ESS may be quite dissimilar if mortality rates are different. This creates the potential for an ‘evolutionary conflict’ between females and males. Bagworm moths (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) provide an exemplary case where life-history attributes are such that protogyny should indeed be the optimal emergence strategy from the males’ and females’ perspectives: (i) Female longevity is considerably larger than that of males, (ii) encounter rates between females and males are presumably low, and (iii) females mate only once. Protogyny is indeed the general mating strategy found in the bagworm family.
• Relationships between wild bees, hoverflies and pollination success in apple orchards with different landscape contexts: Importance of wild pollinators in apple orchards Földesi, Rita; Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó; Kőrösi, Ádám; Somay, László; Elek, Zoltán; Markó, Viktor; Sárospataki, Miklós; Bakos, Réka; Varga, Ákos; Nyisztor, Katinka; Báldi, András in Agricultural and Forest Entomology (2015). 18 68–75.
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  @article{noauthororeditor2015relationships, author = {Földesi, Rita and Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó and Kőrösi, Ádám and Somay, László and Elek, Zoltán and Markó, Viktor and Sárospataki, Miklós and Bakos, Réka and Varga, Ákos and Nyisztor, Katinka and Báldi, András}, journal = {Agricultural and Forest Entomology}, keywords = {wild}, pages = {68-75}, title = {Relationships between wild bees, hoverflies and pollination success in apple orchards with different landscape contexts: Importance of wild pollinators in apple orchards}, volume = 18, year = 2015 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 noauthororeditor2015relationships %A Földesi, Rita %A Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Somay, László %A Elek, Zoltán %A Markó, Viktor %A Sárospataki, Miklós %A Bakos, Réka %A Varga, Ákos %A Nyisztor, Katinka %A Báldi, András %D 2015 %J Agricultural and Forest Entomology %P 68-75 %T Relationships between wild bees, hoverflies and pollination success in apple orchards with different landscape contexts: Importance of wild pollinators in apple orchards %U http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/afe.12135 %V 18
• Dispersal timing: Emigration of insects living in patchy environments Lakovic, Milica; Poethke, Hans-Joachim; Hovestadt, Thomas in PLOS ONE (2015). 10(7) e0128672.
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  @article{lakovic_dispersal_2015, author = {Lakovic, Milica and Poethke, Hans-Joachim and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {jul}, number = 7, pages = {e0128672}, title = {Dispersal timing: {Emigration} of insects living in patchy environments}, volume = 10, year = 2015 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 lakovic_dispersal_2015 %A Lakovic, Milica %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2015 %J PLOS ONE %N 7 %P e0128672 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0128672 %T Dispersal timing: Emigration of insects living in patchy environments %U http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128672 %V 10
• 3D Flight Path Tracking of Butterflies by Image Processing Mitesser, Oliver; Kőrösi, Ádám; Hovestadt, Thomas; Möhringer, Peter; Bohn, Günther in International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering Systems (2015). 6(1) 29–31.
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  @article{mitesser_3d_2015, author = {Mitesser, Oliver and Kőrösi, Ádám and Hovestadt, Thomas and Möhringer, Peter and Bohn, Günther}, journal = {International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering Systems}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, number = 1, pages = {29–31}, title = {3D {Flight} {Path} {Tracking} of {Butterflies} by {Image} {Processing}}, volume = 6, year = 2015 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 mitesser_3d_2015 %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Möhringer, Peter %A Bohn, Günther %D 2015 %J International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering Systems %N 1 %P 29--31 %T 3D Flight Path Tracking of Butterflies by Image Processing %V 6
• The Adequate Use of Limited Information in Dispersal Decisions Poethke, Hans Joachim; Kubisch, Alexander; Mitesser, Oliver; Hovestadt, Thomas in The American Naturalist (2015). 187(1) 136–142.
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  @article{poethke_adequate_2015, annote = {doi: 10.1086/684190}, author = {Poethke, Hans Joachim and Kubisch, Alexander and Mitesser, Oliver and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {The American Naturalist}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {nov}, number = 1, pages = {136–142}, title = {The {Adequate} {Use} of {Limited} {Information} in {Dispersal} {Decisions}}, volume = 187, year = 2015 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 poethke_adequate_2015 %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2015 %J The American Naturalist %N 1 %P 136--142 %R 10.1086/684190 %T The Adequate Use of Limited Information in Dispersal Decisions %U http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/684190 %V 187 %Z doi: 10.1086/684190

• Photographic survey of the prey-choice of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758) in Hungary at three colonies Fuisz, Tibor István; Vas, Zoltán; Túri, Katalin; Kőrösi, Ádám in Ornis Hungarica (2014). 21(2) 38–46.
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  @article{fuisz_photographic_2014, abstract = {Prey choice of European Bee-eaters was monitored via taking pictures of parent birds carrying prey items to their perches in front of the nests between 2011 and 2013 at three colonies in Hungary: at Pócsmegyer, Nagykarácsony and Albertirsa. All the colonies were studied in the breeding season, and prey items were identified from the digital images taken of adults carrying food for their chicks. During the three years 25 days were spent with collecting photographic data, and from the thousands of pictures taken 805 were suitable for analysis. On 775 photographs the prey item was identified at least to order level. Combining data from all the colonies hymenopterans were by far the most often consumed insects (50\%), followed by dragonflies (17\%), while beetles, orthopterans, lepidopterans and dipterans each contributed approximately 7-9\% of the consumed prey. Prey composition showed marked differences between the individual colonies, although the ratio of hymenopterans was everywhere high. Bee-eaters at Pócsmegyer, probably due to the abundance of aquatic habitats nearby on the Danube shore, consumed almost as much dragonflies as hymenopterans, and ate very few orthopterans. While at the Albertirsa colony, surrounded by agricultural fields and meadows in a more arid environment, hymenopterans dominated the prey, and orthopterans were almost as often consumed as dragonflies. Lepidopterans constituted approximately 8\% of Bee-eaters’ diet in all colonies. From an insect ecological viewpoint, our study provides valuable data on the species pool that might be at risk of predation by Bee-eaters, and enables us to roughly estimate the predation pressure on some taxa, and in certain cases even on species by these birds.}, author = {Fuisz, Tibor István and Vas, Zoltán and Túri, Katalin and Kőrösi, Ádám}, journal = {Ornis Hungarica}, keywords = {imported}, number = 2, pages = {38–46}, title = {Photographic survey of the prey-choice of {European} {Bee}-eaters ({Merops} apiaster {Linnaeus}, 1758) in {Hungary} at three colonies}, volume = 21, year = 2014 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 fuisz_photographic_2014 %A Fuisz, Tibor István %A Vas, Zoltán %A Túri, Katalin %A Kőrösi, Ádám %D 2014 %J Ornis Hungarica %N 2 %P 38--46 %R 10.2478/orhu-2014-0004 %T Photographic survey of the prey-choice of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758) in Hungary at three colonies %U http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/orhu.2013.21.issue-2/orhu-2014-0004/orhu-2014-0004.xml %V 21 %X Prey choice of European Bee-eaters was monitored via taking pictures of parent birds carrying prey items to their perches in front of the nests between 2011 and 2013 at three colonies in Hungary: at Pócsmegyer, Nagykarácsony and Albertirsa. All the colonies were studied in the breeding season, and prey items were identified from the digital images taken of adults carrying food for their chicks. During the three years 25 days were spent with collecting photographic data, and from the thousands of pictures taken 805 were suitable for analysis. On 775 photographs the prey item was identified at least to order level. Combining data from all the colonies hymenopterans were by far the most often consumed insects (50\%), followed by dragonflies (17\%), while beetles, orthopterans, lepidopterans and dipterans each contributed approximately 7-9% of the consumed prey. Prey composition showed marked differences between the individual colonies, although the ratio of hymenopterans was everywhere high. Bee-eaters at Pócsmegyer, probably due to the abundance of aquatic habitats nearby on the Danube shore, consumed almost as much dragonflies as hymenopterans, and ate very few orthopterans. While at the Albertirsa colony, surrounded by agricultural fields and meadows in a more arid environment, hymenopterans dominated the prey, and orthopterans were almost as often consumed as dragonflies. Lepidopterans constituted approximately 8% of Bee-eaters’ diet in all colonies. From an insect ecological viewpoint, our study provides valuable data on the species pool that might be at risk of predation by Bee-eaters, and enables us to roughly estimate the predation pressure on some taxa, and in certain cases even on species by these birds.
• Gender-Specific Emigration Decisions Sensitive to Local Male and Female Density Hovestadt, Thomas; Mitesser, Oliver; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in The American Naturalist (2014). 184(1) 38–51.
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  @article{hovestadt_gender-specific_2014, author = {Hovestadt, Thomas and Mitesser, Oliver and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {The American Naturalist}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {jul}, number = 1, pages = {38–51}, title = {Gender-{Specific} {Emigration} {Decisions} {Sensitive} to {Local} {Male} and {Female} {Density}}, volume = 184, year = 2014 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hovestadt_gender-specific_2014 %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2014 %J The American Naturalist %N 1 %P 38--51 %R 10.1086/676524 %T Gender-Specific Emigration Decisions Sensitive to Local Male and Female Density %U http://www.jstor.org/stable/info/10.1086/676524 %V 184
• Effects of timing and frequency of mowing on the threatened scarce large blue butterfly – A fine-scale experiment Kőrösi, Ádám; Szentirmai, István; Batáry, Péter; Kövér, Szilvia; Örvössy, Noémi; Peregovits, László in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (2014). 196 24–33.
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  @article{korosi_effects_2014, abstract = {As part of a major transformation of the EU agriculture in the last few decades, traditional land-use types disappeared due to either intensification or abandonment. Grasslands are highly affected in this process and are consequently among the most threatened semi-natural habitats in Europe. However, experimental evidence is scarce on the effects of management types on biodiversity. Moreover, management types need to be feasible within the recently changed socio-economic circumstances in Hungary. We investigated the effects of timing and frequency of mowing on the abundance of the scarce large blue butterfly (Phengaris teleius), on the abundance of its host plant and on the frequency of its host ant species. In each of four study meadows, we applied four types of management: one cut per year in May, one cut per year in September, two cuts per year (May and September) and cessation of management. After three years of experimental management, we found that adult butterflies preferred plots cut once in September over plots cut twice per year and abandoned ones, while plots cut once in May were also preferred over abandoned plots. Relative host plant abundance remarkably increased in plots cut once in September. Management did not affect the occupancy pattern of Myrmica host ants. Invasive goldenrod was successfully retained by two cuts per year. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to test management effects on the whole community module of a socially parasitic butterfly, its host plant and host ants. Based on the results, we provide recommendations on regional management of the scarce large blue's habitats.}, author = {Kőrösi, Ádám and Szentirmai, István and Batáry, Péter and Kövér, Szilvia and Örvössy, Noémi and Peregovits, László}, journal = {Agriculture, Ecosystems \& Environment}, keywords = {management,}, month = {oct}, pages = {24–33}, title = {Effects of timing and frequency of mowing on the threatened scarce large blue butterfly – {A} fine-scale experiment}, volume = 196, year = 2014 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 korosi_effects_2014 %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Szentirmai, István %A Batáry, Péter %A Kövér, Szilvia %A Örvössy, Noémi %A Peregovits, László %D 2014 %J Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment %P 24--33 %R 10.1016/j.agee.2014.06.019 %T Effects of timing and frequency of mowing on the threatened scarce large blue butterfly – A fine-scale experiment %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880914003491 %V 196 %X As part of a major transformation of the EU agriculture in the last few decades, traditional land-use types disappeared due to either intensification or abandonment. Grasslands are highly affected in this process and are consequently among the most threatened semi-natural habitats in Europe. However, experimental evidence is scarce on the effects of management types on biodiversity. Moreover, management types need to be feasible within the recently changed socio-economic circumstances in Hungary. We investigated the effects of timing and frequency of mowing on the abundance of the scarce large blue butterfly (Phengaris teleius), on the abundance of its host plant and on the frequency of its host ant species. In each of four study meadows, we applied four types of management: one cut per year in May, one cut per year in September, two cuts per year (May and September) and cessation of management. After three years of experimental management, we found that adult butterflies preferred plots cut once in September over plots cut twice per year and abandoned ones, while plots cut once in May were also preferred over abandoned plots. Relative host plant abundance remarkably increased in plots cut once in September. Management did not affect the occupancy pattern of Myrmica host ants. Invasive goldenrod was successfully retained by two cuts per year. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to test management effects on the whole community module of a socially parasitic butterfly, its host plant and host ants. Based on the results, we provide recommendations on regional management of the scarce large blue's habitats.
• Annual dynamics of wild bee densities: attractiveness and productivity effects of oilseed rape Riedinger, Verena; Mitesser, Oliver; Hovestadt, Thomas; Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf; Holzschuh, Andrea in Ecology (2014). 96(5) 1351–1360.
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  @article{riedinger_annual_2014, abstract = {Mass-flowering crops may affect long-term population dynamics, but effects on pollinators have never been studied across several years. We monitored wild bees in oilseed rape fields in 16 landscapes in Germany in two consecutive years. Effects on bee densities of landscape oilseed rape cover in the years of monitoring and in the previous years were evaluated with landscape data from three consecutive years. We fit empirical data to a mechanistic model to provide estimates for oilseed rape attractiveness and its effect on bee productivity in comparison to the rest of the landscape, and we evaluated consequences for pollinator densities in consecutive years. Our results show that high oilseed rape cover in the previous year enhances current densities of wild bees (except for bumble bees). Moreover, we show a strong attractiveness of and dilution on (i.e., decreasing bee densities with increasing landscape oilseed rape cover) oilseed rape for bees during flowering in the current year, modifying the effect of the previous year's oilseed rape cover in the case of wild bees (excluding Bombus). As long as other factors such as nesting sites or natural enemies do not limit bee reproduction, our findings suggest long-term positive effects of mass-flowering crops on bee populations, at least for non-Bombus generalists, which possibly help to maintain crop pollination services even when crop area increases. Similar effects are conceivable for other organisms providing ecosystem services in annual crops and should be considered in future studies.}, annote = {doi: 10.1890/14-1124.1}, author = {Riedinger, Verena and Mitesser, Oliver and Hovestadt, Thomas and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf and Holzschuh, Andrea}, journal = {Ecology}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {nov}, number = 5, pages = {1351–1360}, title = {Annual dynamics of wild bee densities: attractiveness and productivity effects of oilseed rape}, volume = 96, year = 2014 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 riedinger_annual_2014 %A Riedinger, Verena %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf %A Holzschuh, Andrea %D 2014 %J Ecology %N 5 %P 1351--1360 %R 10.1890/14-1124.1 %T Annual dynamics of wild bee densities: attractiveness and productivity effects of oilseed rape %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/14-1124.1 %V 96 %X Mass-flowering crops may affect long-term population dynamics, but effects on pollinators have never been studied across several years. We monitored wild bees in oilseed rape fields in 16 landscapes in Germany in two consecutive years. Effects on bee densities of landscape oilseed rape cover in the years of monitoring and in the previous years were evaluated with landscape data from three consecutive years. We fit empirical data to a mechanistic model to provide estimates for oilseed rape attractiveness and its effect on bee productivity in comparison to the rest of the landscape, and we evaluated consequences for pollinator densities in consecutive years. Our results show that high oilseed rape cover in the previous year enhances current densities of wild bees (except for bumble bees). Moreover, we show a strong attractiveness of and dilution on (i.e., decreasing bee densities with increasing landscape oilseed rape cover) oilseed rape for bees during flowering in the current year, modifying the effect of the previous year's oilseed rape cover in the case of wild bees (excluding Bombus). As long as other factors such as nesting sites or natural enemies do not limit bee reproduction, our findings suggest long-term positive effects of mass-flowering crops on bee populations, at least for non-Bombus generalists, which possibly help to maintain crop pollination services even when crop area increases. Similar effects are conceivable for other organisms providing ecosystem services in annual crops and should be considered in future studies. %Z doi: 10.1890/14-1124.1
• Habitat use and population biology of the Danube Clouded Yellow butterfly Colias myrmidone (Lepidoptera: {Pieridae}) in Romania Szentirmai, István; Mesterházy, Attila; Varga, Ildikó; Schubert, Zoltán; Sándor, Lehel Csaba; Ábrahám, Levente; Kőrösi, Ádám in Journal of Insect Conservation (2014). 18(3) 417–425.
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  @article{szentirmai_habitat_2014, abstract = {The Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone) is one of the most endangered butterflies in Europe. Its distribution range shrank dramatically in the last few decades due to the extinction of populations in Western and Central Europe. Ecological studies were commenced when populations were already at the verge of extinction, thus our knowledge on the population ecology and habitat use of this butterfly is very limited. Here we report the results of a study on habitat preferences, egg distribution and demography of C. myrmidone in Romania, perhaps the last remaining stronghold of the species in Central Europe. We found that Danube Clouded Yellow adults occurred mainly in mesophilous grasslands created by forest clearing and then maintained by low intensity grazing allowing bushes and forest-edge vegetation to develop and host Chamaecytisus species to grow. Butterflies highly preferred lightly grazed pastures over hay meadows and abandoned grasslands, their density was positively related to host plant density. Egg-laying females preferred habitat patches with relatively high cover of the host plant and tall vegetation. Both apparent survival rate and encounter probability were lower for females than males, and parameter estimations also had much higher errors for females. These indicate that much higher sampling effort is needed to estimate and monitor population parameters for females than for males. Our results provide guidelines for the habitat management and population monitoring of Colias myrmidone, thus may significantly contribute to its successful conservation.}, author = {Szentirmai, István and Mesterházy, Attila and Varga, Ildikó and Schubert, Zoltán and Sándor, Lehel Csaba and Ábrahám, Levente and Kőrösi, Ádám}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, keywords = {imported}, month = {jun}, number = 3, pages = {417–425}, title = {Habitat use and population biology of the {Danube} {Clouded} {Yellow} butterfly {Colias} myrmidone ({Lepidoptera}: {Pieridae}) in {Romania}}, volume = 18, year = 2014 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 szentirmai_habitat_2014 %A Szentirmai, István %A Mesterházy, Attila %A Varga, Ildikó %A Schubert, Zoltán %A Sándor, Lehel Csaba %A Ábrahám, Levente %A Kőrösi, Ádám %D 2014 %J Journal of Insect Conservation %N 3 %P 417--425 %R 10.1007/s10841-014-9651-7 %T Habitat use and population biology of the Danube Clouded Yellow butterfly Colias myrmidone (Lepidoptera: {Pieridae}) in Romania %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-014-9651-7 %V 18 %X The Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone) is one of the most endangered butterflies in Europe. Its distribution range shrank dramatically in the last few decades due to the extinction of populations in Western and Central Europe. Ecological studies were commenced when populations were already at the verge of extinction, thus our knowledge on the population ecology and habitat use of this butterfly is very limited. Here we report the results of a study on habitat preferences, egg distribution and demography of C. myrmidone in Romania, perhaps the last remaining stronghold of the species in Central Europe. We found that Danube Clouded Yellow adults occurred mainly in mesophilous grasslands created by forest clearing and then maintained by low intensity grazing allowing bushes and forest-edge vegetation to develop and host Chamaecytisus species to grow. Butterflies highly preferred lightly grazed pastures over hay meadows and abandoned grasslands, their density was positively related to host plant density. Egg-laying females preferred habitat patches with relatively high cover of the host plant and tall vegetation. Both apparent survival rate and encounter probability were lower for females than males, and parameter estimations also had much higher errors for females. These indicate that much higher sampling effort is needed to estimate and monitor population parameters for females than for males. Our results provide guidelines for the habitat management and population monitoring of Colias myrmidone, thus may significantly contribute to its successful conservation.

• Contrasting specialization–stability relationships in plant–animal mutualistic systems Benadi, Gita; Blüthgen, Nico; Hovestadt, Thomas; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Ecological Modelling (2013). 258 65–73.
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  @article{benadi_contrasting_2013, author = {Benadi, Gita and Blüthgen, Nico and Hovestadt, Thomas and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Ecological Modelling}, keywords = {pollination}, month = {jun}, pages = {65–73}, title = {Contrasting specialization–stability relationships in plant–animal mutualistic systems}, volume = 258, year = 2013 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 benadi_contrasting_2013 %A Benadi, Gita %A Blüthgen, Nico %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2013 %J Ecological Modelling %P 65--73 %R 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.03.002 %T Contrasting specialization–stability relationships in plant–animal mutualistic systems %U http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0304380013001518 %V 258
• When can plant-pollinator interactions promote plant diversity? Benadi, Gita; Blüthgen, Nico; Hovestadt, Thomas; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in The American Naturalist (2013). 182(2) 131–146.
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  @article{benadi_when_2013, author = {Benadi, Gita and Blüthgen, Nico and Hovestadt, Thomas and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {The American Naturalist}, keywords = {pollination}, month = {aug}, number = 2, pages = {131–146}, title = {When can plant-pollinator interactions promote plant diversity?}, volume = 182, year = 2013 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 benadi_when_2013 %A Benadi, Gita %A Blüthgen, Nico %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2013 %J The American Naturalist %N 2 %P 131--146 %R 10.1086/670942 %T When can plant-pollinator interactions promote plant diversity? %U http://www.jstor.org/stable/info/10.1086/670942 %V 182
• From random walks to informed movement Fronhofer, Emanuel A.; Hovestadt, Thomas; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Oikos (2013). 122(6) 857–866.
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  @article{fronhofer_random_2013, author = {Fronhofer, Emanuel A. and Hovestadt, Thomas and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Oikos}, keywords = {Movement}, month = {jun}, number = 6, pages = {857–866}, title = {From random walks to informed movement}, volume = 122, year = 2013 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 fronhofer_random_2013 %A Fronhofer, Emanuel A. %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2013 %J Oikos %N 6 %P 857--866 %R 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.21021.x %T From random walks to informed movement %U http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.21021.x %V 122
• Predicting range shifts under global change: the balance between local adaptation and dispersal Kubisch, Alexander; Degen, Tobias; Hovestadt, Thomas; Poethke, Hans Joachim in Ecography (2013). 36(8) 873–882.
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  @article{kubisch_predicting_2013, author = {Kubisch, Alexander and Degen, Tobias and Hovestadt, Thomas and Poethke, Hans Joachim}, journal = {Ecography}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {aug}, number = 8, pages = {873–882}, title = {Predicting range shifts under global change: the balance between local adaptation and dispersal}, volume = 36, year = 2013 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 kubisch_predicting_2013 %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Degen, Tobias %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %D 2013 %J Ecography %N 8 %P 873--882 %R 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2012.00062.x %T Predicting range shifts under global change: the balance between local adaptation and dispersal %U http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2012.00062.x %V 36
• Kin competition as a major driving force for invasions Kubisch, Alexander; Fronhofer, Emanuel A.; Poethke, Hans Joachim; Hovestadt, Thomas in The American Naturalist (2013). 181(5) 700–706.
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  @article{kubisch_kin_2013, author = {Kubisch, Alexander and Fronhofer, Emanuel A. and Poethke, Hans Joachim and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {The American Naturalist}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {may}, number = 5, pages = {700–706}, title = {Kin competition as a major driving force for invasions}, volume = 181, year = 2013 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 kubisch_kin_2013 %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Fronhofer, Emanuel A. %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2013 %J The American Naturalist %N 5 %P 700--706 %R 10.1086/670008 %T Kin competition as a major driving force for invasions %U http://www.jstor.org/stable/info/10.1086/670008 %V 181

• Why are metapopulations so rare? Fronhofer, Emanuel A.; Kubisch, Alexander; Hilker, Frank M.; Hovestadt, Thomas; Poethke, Hans Joachim in Ecology (2012). 93(8) 1967–1978.
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  @article{fronhofer_why_2012, abstract = {Roughly 40 years after its introduction, the metapopulation concept is central to population ecology. The notion that local populations and their dynamics may be coupled by dispersal is without any doubt of great importance for our understanding of population-level processes. A metapopulation describes a set of subpopulations linked by (rare) dispersal events in a dynamic equilibrium of extinctions and recolonizations. In the large body of literature that has accumulated, the term "metapopulation'' is often used in a very broad sense; most of the time it simply implies spatial heterogeneity. A number of reviews have recently addressed this problem and have pointed out that, despite the large and still growing popularity of the metapopulation concept, there are only very few empirical examples that conform with the strict classical metapopulation (CM) definition. In order to understand this discrepancy between theory and observation, we use an individual-based modeling approach that allows us to pinpoint the environmental conditions and the life-history attributes required for the emergence of a CM structure. We find that CM dynamics are restricted to a specific parameter range at the border between spatially structured but completely occupied and globally extinct populations. Considering general life-history attributes, our simulations suggest that CMs are more likely to occur in arthropod species than in (large) vertebrates. Since the specific type of spatial population structure determines conservation concepts, our findings have important implications for conservation biology. Our model suggests that most spatially structured populations are panmictic, patchy, or of mainland-island type, which makes efforts spent on increasing connectivity (e.g., corridors) questionable. If one does observe a true CM structure, this means that the focal metapopulation is on the brink of extinction and that drastic conservation measures are needed.}, author = {Fronhofer, Emanuel A. and Kubisch, Alexander and Hilker, Frank M. and Hovestadt, Thomas and Poethke, Hans Joachim}, journal = {Ecology}, keywords = {metapopulation}, month = {aug}, note = {WOS:000307214000021}, number = 8, pages = {1967–1978}, title = {Why are metapopulations so rare?}, volume = 93, year = 2012 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 fronhofer_why_2012 %A Fronhofer, Emanuel A. %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Hilker, Frank M. %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %D 2012 %J Ecology %N 8 %P 1967--1978 %T Why are metapopulations so rare? %V 93 %X Roughly 40 years after its introduction, the metapopulation concept is central to population ecology. The notion that local populations and their dynamics may be coupled by dispersal is without any doubt of great importance for our understanding of population-level processes. A metapopulation describes a set of subpopulations linked by (rare) dispersal events in a dynamic equilibrium of extinctions and recolonizations. In the large body of literature that has accumulated, the term "metapopulation'' is often used in a very broad sense; most of the time it simply implies spatial heterogeneity. A number of reviews have recently addressed this problem and have pointed out that, despite the large and still growing popularity of the metapopulation concept, there are only very few empirical examples that conform with the strict classical metapopulation (CM) definition. In order to understand this discrepancy between theory and observation, we use an individual-based modeling approach that allows us to pinpoint the environmental conditions and the life-history attributes required for the emergence of a CM structure. We find that CM dynamics are restricted to a specific parameter range at the border between spatially structured but completely occupied and globally extinct populations. Considering general life-history attributes, our simulations suggest that CMs are more likely to occur in arthropod species than in (large) vertebrates. Since the specific type of spatial population structure determines conservation concepts, our findings have important implications for conservation biology. Our model suggests that most spatially structured populations are panmictic, patchy, or of mainland-island type, which makes efforts spent on increasing connectivity (e.g., corridors) questionable. If one does observe a true CM structure, this means that the focal metapopulation is on the brink of extinction and that drastic conservation measures are needed.
• Unexpected benefit of a social parasite for a key fitness component of its ant host Hovestadt, Thomas; Thomas, Jeremy A.; Mitesser, Oliver; Elmes, Graham W.; Schoenrogge, Karsten in American Naturalist (2012). 179(1) 110–123.
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  @article{hovestadt_unexpected_2012, abstract = {Numerous invertebrates inhabit social insect colonies, including the hoverfly genus Microdon, whose larvae typically live as brood predators. Formica lemani ant colonies apparently endure Microdon mutabilis infections over several years, despite losing a considerable fraction of young, and may even produce more gynes. We present a model for resource allocation within polygynous ant colonies, which assumes that whether an ant larva switches development into a worker or a gyne depends on the quantity of food received randomly from workers. Accordingly, Microdon predation promotes gyne development by increasing resource availability for surviving broods. Several model predictions are supported by empirical data. (i) Uninfected colonies seldom produce gynes. (ii) Infected colonies experience a short-lived peak in gyne production leading to a bimodal distribution in gyne production. (iii) Low brood : worker ratio is the critical mechanism controlling gyne production. (iv) Brood : worker ratio reduction must be substantial for increased gyne production to become noticeable.}, author = {Hovestadt, Thomas and Thomas, Jeremy A. and Mitesser, Oliver and Elmes, Graham W. and Schoenrogge, Karsten}, journal = {American Naturalist}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {jan}, note = {WOS:000298379200012}, number = 1, pages = {110–123}, title = {Unexpected benefit of a social parasite for a key fitness component of its ant host}, volume = 179, year = 2012 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hovestadt_unexpected_2012 %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Thomas, Jeremy A. %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Elmes, Graham W. %A Schoenrogge, Karsten %D 2012 %J American Naturalist %N 1 %P 110--123 %R 10.1086/663203 %T Unexpected benefit of a social parasite for a key fitness component of its ant host %V 179 %X Numerous invertebrates inhabit social insect colonies, including the hoverfly genus Microdon, whose larvae typically live as brood predators. Formica lemani ant colonies apparently endure Microdon mutabilis infections over several years, despite losing a considerable fraction of young, and may even produce more gynes. We present a model for resource allocation within polygynous ant colonies, which assumes that whether an ant larva switches development into a worker or a gyne depends on the quantity of food received randomly from workers. Accordingly, Microdon predation promotes gyne development by increasing resource availability for surviving broods. Several model predictions are supported by empirical data. (i) Uninfected colonies seldom produce gynes. (ii) Infected colonies experience a short-lived peak in gyne production leading to a bimodal distribution in gyne production. (iii) Low brood : worker ratio is the critical mechanism controlling gyne production. (iv) Brood : worker ratio reduction must be substantial for increased gyne production to become noticeable.
• Effects of grazing, vegetation structure and landscape complexity on grassland leafhoppers (Hemiptera: {Auchenorrhyncha}) and true bugs (Hemiptera: {Heteroptera}) in Hungary Kőrösi, Ádám; Batáry, Péter; Orosz, András; Rédei, Dávid; Báldi, András in Insect Conservation and Diversity (2012). 5(1) 57–66.
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  @article{korosi_effects_2012, abstract = {Abstract.  1. Agricultural intensification is a major cause of biodiversity loss in European farmlands. Grasslands are particularly important habitats for the conservation of rich insect assemblages of Central and Eastern Europe. Although regular grazing or mowing of these grasslands is required to maintain diversity, there is no information about how such management and other factors influence Hemiptera assemblages. 2. We studied leafhopper and true bug assemblages in semi-natural grasslands in three regions of the Great Hungarian Plain. We investigated how local vegetation factors and landscape complexity influence assemblages and whether they interact with management effects. 3. Seven pairs of intensively ({\textgreater}1 cow/ha) versus extensively (∼0.5 cow/ha) grazed pastures were sampled in each region by sweep-netting. 4. Sward height was the most important explanatory factor for leafhoppers (84 species, 27264 individuals), as it increased both species number and abundance, and influenced assemblage composition. The extent of grassland surrounding the sample sites negatively affected leafhoppers, whereas extensive grazing decreased abundance and influenced composition. True bug assemblages (140 species, 6656 individuals) were positively affected only by mean sward height, whereas regional differences determined the community composition of both taxa. 5. We conclude that vegetation structure is the primary factor shaping Hemiptera communities and that the various types of grasslands studied are all important habitats for the taxon. Therefore, cattle grazing in its current form is beneficial for the rich Hemiptera fauna in lowland pastures of Hungary. However, in some cases, local and landscape factors and great regional differences may confound the effects of grazing, and this must be considered in conservation planning in the future.}, author = {Kőrösi, Ádám and Batáry, Péter and Orosz, András and Rédei, Dávid and Báldi, András}, journal = {Insect Conservation and Diversity}, keywords = {sward}, month = {feb}, number = 1, pages = {57–66}, title = {Effects of grazing, vegetation structure and landscape complexity on grassland leafhoppers ({Hemiptera}: {Auchenorrhyncha}) and true bugs ({Hemiptera}: {Heteroptera}) in {Hungary}}, volume = 5, year = 2012 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 korosi_effects_2012 %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Batáry, Péter %A Orosz, András %A Rédei, Dávid %A Báldi, András %D 2012 %J Insect Conservation and Diversity %N 1 %P 57--66 %R 10.1111/j.1752-4598.2011.00153.x %T Effects of grazing, vegetation structure and landscape complexity on grassland leafhoppers (Hemiptera: {Auchenorrhyncha}) and true bugs (Hemiptera: {Heteroptera}) in Hungary %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2011.00153.x/abstract %V 5 %X Abstract.  1. Agricultural intensification is a major cause of biodiversity loss in European farmlands. Grasslands are particularly important habitats for the conservation of rich insect assemblages of Central and Eastern Europe. Although regular grazing or mowing of these grasslands is required to maintain diversity, there is no information about how such management and other factors influence Hemiptera assemblages. 2. We studied leafhopper and true bug assemblages in semi-natural grasslands in three regions of the Great Hungarian Plain. We investigated how local vegetation factors and landscape complexity influence assemblages and whether they interact with management effects. 3. Seven pairs of intensively (\textgreater1 cow/ha) versus extensively (∼0.5 cow/ha) grazed pastures were sampled in each region by sweep-netting. 4. Sward height was the most important explanatory factor for leafhoppers (84 species, 27264 individuals), as it increased both species number and abundance, and influenced assemblage composition. The extent of grassland surrounding the sample sites negatively affected leafhoppers, whereas extensive grazing decreased abundance and influenced composition. True bug assemblages (140 species, 6656 individuals) were positively affected only by mean sward height, whereas regional differences determined the community composition of both taxa. 5. We conclude that vegetation structure is the primary factor shaping Hemiptera communities and that the various types of grasslands studied are all important habitats for the taxon. Therefore, cattle grazing in its current form is beneficial for the rich Hemiptera fauna in lowland pastures of Hungary. However, in some cases, local and landscape factors and great regional differences may confound the effects of grazing, and this must be considered in conservation planning in the future.
• Potential metapopulation structure and the effects of habitat quality on population size of the endangered False Ringlet butterfly Örvössy, Noémi; Kőrösi, Ádám; Batáry, Péter; Vozár, Ágnes; Peregovits, László in Journal of Insect Conservation (2012). 17(3) 537–547.
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  @article{orvossy_potential_2012, abstract = {The False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus) is a European butterfly species, endangered due to the severe loss and fragmentation of its habitat. In Hungary, two remaining populations of the butterfly occur in lowland Purple Moorgrass meadows. We studied a metapopulation occupying twelve habitat patches in Central Hungary. Our aim was to reveal what measures of habitat quality affect population size and density of this metapopulation, estimate dispersal parameters and describe phenology of subpopulations. Local population sizes and dispersal parameters were estimated from an extensive mark–release–recapture dataset, while habitat quality was characterized by groundwater level, cover of grass tussocks, bush cover, height of vegetation and grass litter at each habitat patch. The estimated size of the metapopulation was more than 3,000 individuals. We estimated a low dispersal capacity, especially for females, indicating a very low probability of (re)colonization. Butterfly abundance and density in local populations increased with higher grass litter, lower groundwater level and larger area covered by tussocks. We suppose that these environmental factors affect butterfly abundance by determining the microclimatic conditions for both larvae and adult butterflies. Our results suggest that the long-term preservation of the studied metapopulation needs the maintenance of high quality habitat patches by appropriate mowing regime and water regulation. Management also should facilitate dispersal to strengthen metapopulation structure with creating stepping-stones or gradually increase habitat quality in present matrix.}, author = {Örvössy, Noémi and Kőrösi, Ádám and Batáry, Péter and Vozár, Ágnes and Peregovits, László}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, keywords = {imported}, month = {nov}, number = 3, pages = {537–547}, title = {Potential metapopulation structure and the effects of habitat quality on population size of the endangered {False} {Ringlet} butterfly}, volume = 17, year = 2012 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 orvossy_potential_2012 %A Örvössy, Noémi %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Batáry, Péter %A Vozár, Ágnes %A Peregovits, László %D 2012 %J Journal of Insect Conservation %N 3 %P 537--547 %R 10.1007/s10841-012-9538-4 %T Potential metapopulation structure and the effects of habitat quality on population size of the endangered False Ringlet butterfly %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-012-9538-4 %V 17 %X The False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus) is a European butterfly species, endangered due to the severe loss and fragmentation of its habitat. In Hungary, two remaining populations of the butterfly occur in lowland Purple Moorgrass meadows. We studied a metapopulation occupying twelve habitat patches in Central Hungary. Our aim was to reveal what measures of habitat quality affect population size and density of this metapopulation, estimate dispersal parameters and describe phenology of subpopulations. Local population sizes and dispersal parameters were estimated from an extensive mark–release–recapture dataset, while habitat quality was characterized by groundwater level, cover of grass tussocks, bush cover, height of vegetation and grass litter at each habitat patch. The estimated size of the metapopulation was more than 3,000 individuals. We estimated a low dispersal capacity, especially for females, indicating a very low probability of (re)colonization. Butterfly abundance and density in local populations increased with higher grass litter, lower groundwater level and larger area covered by tussocks. We suppose that these environmental factors affect butterfly abundance by determining the microclimatic conditions for both larvae and adult butterflies. Our results suggest that the long-term preservation of the studied metapopulation needs the maintenance of high quality habitat patches by appropriate mowing regime and water regulation. Management also should facilitate dispersal to strengthen metapopulation structure with creating stepping-stones or gradually increase habitat quality in present matrix.

• The role of mobility for the emergence of diversity in victim-exploiter systems Chaianunporn, T.; Hovestadt, T. in Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2011). 24(11) 2473–2484.
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  @article{chaianunporn_role_2011, abstract = {Theoretical and empirical studies indicate that exploitation is a possible driver of exploiter and victim diversification. However, there are many factors which could promote and limit this diversification process. Using a spatially explicit individual-based model, where an exploiters success depends on matching between its own and a victims continuous trait, we simulate local communities of victims and exploiters. We investigate how exploiter mobility (searching ability and movement strategies) can influence diversification of victims. We find that if victim traits are under intermediate intensity of stabilizing selection, disruptive selection exerted by exploiters can indeed lead to diversification in victim population and the victim trait distribution can split into two or more groups. Searching ability and movement strategy of exploiters (local vs. global movement) play a role in determining the number of victim trait groups emerging. Moreover, they affect the proportion of infected victims and the formation of spatial patterns in the victim trait distribution. In addition, with a high searching ability, exploiters with global movement drive victims to be more diverse than exploiters with local movement.}, author = {Chaianunporn, T. and Hovestadt, T.}, journal = {Journal of Evolutionary Biology}, keywords = {diversity}, month = {nov}, note = {WOS:000297325600016}, number = 11, pages = {2473–2484}, title = {The role of mobility for the emergence of diversity in victim-exploiter systems}, volume = 24, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 chaianunporn_role_2011 %A Chaianunporn, T. %A Hovestadt, T. %D 2011 %J Journal of Evolutionary Biology %N 11 %P 2473--2484 %R 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02375.x %T The role of mobility for the emergence of diversity in victim-exploiter systems %V 24 %X Theoretical and empirical studies indicate that exploitation is a possible driver of exploiter and victim diversification. However, there are many factors which could promote and limit this diversification process. Using a spatially explicit individual-based model, where an exploiters success depends on matching between its own and a victims continuous trait, we simulate local communities of victims and exploiters. We investigate how exploiter mobility (searching ability and movement strategies) can influence diversification of victims. We find that if victim traits are under intermediate intensity of stabilizing selection, disruptive selection exerted by exploiters can indeed lead to diversification in victim population and the victim trait distribution can split into two or more groups. Searching ability and movement strategy of exploiters (local vs. global movement) play a role in determining the number of victim trait groups emerging. Moreover, they affect the proportion of infected victims and the formation of spatial patterns in the victim trait distribution. In addition, with a high searching ability, exploiters with global movement drive victims to be more diverse than exploiters with local movement.
• An updated algorithm for the generation of neutral landscapes by spectral synthesis Chipperfield, Joseph D.; Dytham, Calvin; Hovestadt, Thomas in Plos One (2011). 6(2) e17040.
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  @article{chipperfield_updated_2011, abstract = {Background: Patterns that arise from an ecological process can be driven as much from the landscape over which the process is run as it is by some intrinsic properties of the process itself. The disentanglement of these effects is aided if it possible to run models of the process over artificial landscapes with controllable spatial properties. A number of different methods for the generation of so-called 'neutral landscapes' have been developed to provide just such a tool. Of these methods, a particular class that simulate fractional Brownian motion have shown particular promise. The existing methods of simulating fractional Brownian motion suffer from a number of problems however: they are often not easily generalisable to an arbitrary number of dimensions and produce outputs that can exhibit some undesirable artefacts. Methodology: We describe here an updated algorithm for the generation of neutral landscapes by fractional Brownian motion that do not display such undesirable properties. Using Monte Carlo simulation we assess the anisotropic properties of landscapes generated using the new algorithm described in this paper and compare it against a popular benchmark algorithm. Conclusion/Significance: The results show that the existing algorithm creates landscapes with values strongly correlated in the diagonal direction and that the new algorithm presented here corrects this artefact. A number of extensions of the algorithm described here are also highlighted: we describe how the algorithm can be employed to generate landscapes that display different properties in different dimensions and how they can be combined with an environmental gradient to produce landscapes that combine environmental variation at the local and macro scales.}, author = {Chipperfield, Joseph D. and Dytham, Calvin and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Plos One}, keywords = {methods}, month = {feb}, note = {WOS:000287369200015}, number = 2, pages = {e17040}, title = {An updated algorithm for the generation of neutral landscapes by spectral synthesis}, volume = 6, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 chipperfield_updated_2011 %A Chipperfield, Joseph D. %A Dytham, Calvin %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2011 %J Plos One %N 2 %P e17040 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0017040 %T An updated algorithm for the generation of neutral landscapes by spectral synthesis %V 6 %X Background: Patterns that arise from an ecological process can be driven as much from the landscape over which the process is run as it is by some intrinsic properties of the process itself. The disentanglement of these effects is aided if it possible to run models of the process over artificial landscapes with controllable spatial properties. A number of different methods for the generation of so-called 'neutral landscapes' have been developed to provide just such a tool. Of these methods, a particular class that simulate fractional Brownian motion have shown particular promise. The existing methods of simulating fractional Brownian motion suffer from a number of problems however: they are often not easily generalisable to an arbitrary number of dimensions and produce outputs that can exhibit some undesirable artefacts. Methodology: We describe here an updated algorithm for the generation of neutral landscapes by fractional Brownian motion that do not display such undesirable properties. Using Monte Carlo simulation we assess the anisotropic properties of landscapes generated using the new algorithm described in this paper and compare it against a popular benchmark algorithm. Conclusion/Significance: The results show that the existing algorithm creates landscapes with values strongly correlated in the diagonal direction and that the new algorithm presented here corrects this artefact. A number of extensions of the algorithm described here are also highlighted: we describe how the algorithm can be employed to generate landscapes that display different properties in different dimensions and how they can be combined with an environmental gradient to produce landscapes that combine environmental variation at the local and macro scales.
• On the approximation of continuous dispersal kernels in discrete-space models: Approximating continuous dispersal on lattices Chipperfield, Joseph D.; Holland, E. Penelope; Dytham, Calvin; Thomas, Chris D.; Hovestadt, Thomas in Methods in Ecology and Evolution (2011). 2(6) 668–681.
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  @article{chipperfield_approximation_2011, author = {Chipperfield, Joseph D. and Holland, E. Penelope and Dytham, Calvin and Thomas, Chris D. and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Methods in Ecology and Evolution}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {dec}, number = 6, pages = {668–681}, title = {On the approximation of continuous dispersal kernels in discrete-space models: {Approximating} continuous dispersal on lattices}, volume = 2, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 chipperfield_approximation_2011 %A Chipperfield, Joseph D. %A Holland, E. Penelope %A Dytham, Calvin %A Thomas, Chris D. %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2011 %J Methods in Ecology and Evolution %N 6 %P 668--681 %R 10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00117.x %T On the approximation of continuous dispersal kernels in discrete-space models: Approximating continuous dispersal on lattices %U http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00117.x %V 2
• Assortative mating counteracts the evolution of dispersal polymorphisms Fronhofer, Emanuel A.; Kubisch, Alexander; Hovestadt, Thomas; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Evolution (2011). 65(9) 2461–2469.
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  @article{fronhofer_assortative_2011, author = {Fronhofer, Emanuel A. and Kubisch, Alexander and Hovestadt, Thomas and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Evolution}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {sep}, number = 9, pages = {2461–2469}, title = {Assortative mating counteracts the evolution of dispersal polymorphisms}, volume = 65, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 fronhofer_assortative_2011 %A Fronhofer, Emanuel A. %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2011 %J Evolution %N 9 %P 2461--2469 %R 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01312.x %T Assortative mating counteracts the evolution of dispersal polymorphisms %U http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01312.x %V 65
• Scarce resources, risk sensitivity, and egalitarian resource sharing Fronhofer, Emanuel A.; Pasurka, Henrik; Mitesser, Oliver; Poethke, Hans Joachim in Evolutionary Ecology Research (2011). 13(3) 253–267.
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  @article{fronhofer_scarce_2011, author = {Fronhofer, Emanuel A. and Pasurka, Henrik and Mitesser, Oliver and Poethke, Hans Joachim}, journal = {Evolutionary Ecology Research}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, number = 3, pages = {253–267}, title = {Scarce resources, risk sensitivity, and egalitarian resource sharing}, volume = 13, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 fronhofer_scarce_2011 %A Fronhofer, Emanuel A. %A Pasurka, Henrik %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %D 2011 %J Evolutionary Ecology Research %N 3 %P 253--267 %T Scarce resources, risk sensitivity, and egalitarian resource sharing %U http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/abstracts/v13/2661.html %V 13
• Risk sensitivity revisited: from individuals to populations Fronhofer, Emanuel A.; Pasurka, Henrik; Poitrineau, Karine; Mitesser, Oliver; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Animal Behaviour (2011). 82(4) 875–883.
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  @article{fronhofer_risk_2011, abstract = {Risk-sensitive foraging theory is central to behavioural ecology. It relates individual fitness to variance in foraging success (risk) and predicts which foraging strategy maximizes fitness under applicable constraints. Fitness usually comprises survival and reproduction. Yet, most models of risk-sensitive foraging have focused on only one of these two factors. Consequently, such models cannot account for the interaction between resource availability and population size, i.e. density dependence. Here, we incorporate both mortality and reproduction as functions of an individual’s risk-sensitive foraging strategy. In our model the individual strategy thus determines the mean availability of resources per capita and consequently the equilibrium population size. From a continuum of possible strategies we are able to pinpoint the exact risk-sensitive strategies that are favoured by natural selection in saturated habitats and demonstrate that, in addition to risk proneness and risk aversion, a number of optimal intermediate variances can be selected for. In contrast to predictions based on models that ignore the interaction between behaviour, population density and resource availability, our results show that high baseline mortality (e.g. predation risk) does not necessarily lead to risk proneness. In addition to this novel finding, our model confirms the crucial importance of resource-independent (baseline) mortality for optimal risk-sensitive behaviour.}, author = {Fronhofer, Emanuel A. and Pasurka, Henrik and Poitrineau, Karine and Mitesser, Oliver and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Animal Behaviour}, keywords = {variance,}, month = {oct}, number = 4, pages = {875–883}, title = {Risk sensitivity revisited: from individuals to populations}, volume = 82, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 fronhofer_risk_2011 %A Fronhofer, Emanuel A. %A Pasurka, Henrik %A Poitrineau, Karine %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2011 %J Animal Behaviour %N 4 %P 875--883 %R 10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.07.027 %T Risk sensitivity revisited: from individuals to populations %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347211003071 %V 82 %X Risk-sensitive foraging theory is central to behavioural ecology. It relates individual fitness to variance in foraging success (risk) and predicts which foraging strategy maximizes fitness under applicable constraints. Fitness usually comprises survival and reproduction. Yet, most models of risk-sensitive foraging have focused on only one of these two factors. Consequently, such models cannot account for the interaction between resource availability and population size, i.e. density dependence. Here, we incorporate both mortality and reproduction as functions of an individual’s risk-sensitive foraging strategy. In our model the individual strategy thus determines the mean availability of resources per capita and consequently the equilibrium population size. From a continuum of possible strategies we are able to pinpoint the exact risk-sensitive strategies that are favoured by natural selection in saturated habitats and demonstrate that, in addition to risk proneness and risk aversion, a number of optimal intermediate variances can be selected for. In contrast to predictions based on models that ignore the interaction between behaviour, population density and resource availability, our results show that high baseline mortality (e.g. predation risk) does not necessarily lead to risk proneness. In addition to this novel finding, our model confirms the crucial importance of resource-independent (baseline) mortality for optimal risk-sensitive behaviour.
• Set-aside promotes insect and plant diversity in a Central European country Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó; Kőrösi, Ádám; Orci, Kirill Márk; Batáry, Péter; Báldi, András in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (2011). 141(3–4) 296–301.
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  @article{kovacs-hostyanszki_set-aside_2011, abstract = {The area of non-cropped habitats has been decreasing in Europe largely due to land conversion into cropland and energy crops. In Hungary, special agri-environment schemes in Environmentally Sensitive Areas require the establishment of sown set-aside fields especially for endangered bird species. We tested if these set-aside fields are beneficial for plants and insects of agricultural landscapes. We compared the herbaceous flora, grasshopper (Orthoptera), bee (Apidae) and butterfly (Rhopalocera) fauna of five field types (1, 2 and 3 year-old set-aside, winter cereal fields and semi-natural grasslands). Species richness, abundance and species composition of insects were tested against field type and plant species richness. The wheat fields were the poorest habitats for all taxa. The species richness and abundance of the studied insects were usually higher in set-aside than in cereal fields with no significant difference between set-aside of different age. We found the highest number of orthopteran species and butterfly individuals in semi-natural grasslands. At community level, field type and plant species richness had a significant effect on orthopteran assemblages. Butterfly assemblages were significantly affected by field type. Bee assemblages were not significantly related to the above variables. We can conclude that set-aside fields provide important habitat patches for plants and insects, in some cases with similar value to semi-natural grasslands. Our results emphasise the importance of set-aside within the Hungarian agri-environment scheme. Establishment of set-aside management in other Central European countries will likely to be of a similar value as the Hungarian set-aside fields.}, author = {Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó and Kőrösi, Ádám and Orci, Kirill Márk and Batáry, Péter and Báldi, András}, journal = {Agriculture, Ecosystems \& Environment}, keywords = {species}, month = {may}, number = {3–4}, pages = {296–301}, title = {Set-aside promotes insect and plant diversity in a {Central} {European} country}, volume = 141, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 kovacs-hostyanszki_set-aside_2011 %A Kovács-Hostyánszki, Anikó %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Orci, Kirill Márk %A Batáry, Péter %A Báldi, András %D 2011 %J Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment %N 3–4 %P 296--301 %R 10.1016/j.agee.2011.03.004 %T Set-aside promotes insect and plant diversity in a Central European country %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911000880 %V 141 %X The area of non-cropped habitats has been decreasing in Europe largely due to land conversion into cropland and energy crops. In Hungary, special agri-environment schemes in Environmentally Sensitive Areas require the establishment of sown set-aside fields especially for endangered bird species. We tested if these set-aside fields are beneficial for plants and insects of agricultural landscapes. We compared the herbaceous flora, grasshopper (Orthoptera), bee (Apidae) and butterfly (Rhopalocera) fauna of five field types (1, 2 and 3 year-old set-aside, winter cereal fields and semi-natural grasslands). Species richness, abundance and species composition of insects were tested against field type and plant species richness. The wheat fields were the poorest habitats for all taxa. The species richness and abundance of the studied insects were usually higher in set-aside than in cereal fields with no significant difference between set-aside of different age. We found the highest number of orthopteran species and butterfly individuals in semi-natural grasslands. At community level, field type and plant species richness had a significant effect on orthopteran assemblages. Butterfly assemblages were significantly affected by field type. Bee assemblages were not significantly related to the above variables. We can conclude that set-aside fields provide important habitat patches for plants and insects, in some cases with similar value to semi-natural grasslands. Our results emphasise the importance of set-aside within the Hungarian agri-environment scheme. Establishment of set-aside management in other Central European countries will likely to be of a similar value as the Hungarian set-aside fields.
• Density-dependent dispersal and the formation of range borders. Kubisch, Alexander; Poethke, Hans-Joachim; Hovestadt, Thomas in Ecography (2011). 34(6) 1002–1008.
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  @article{kubisch_density-dependent_2011, abstract = {Knowledge about the mechanisms of range formation is crucial for scientifically based species conservation strategies in the face of ongoing global climate change. In recent years an increasing amount of studies have focused on the influences of density-dependent dispersal on demographic and biogeographical patterns. However, it still remains unclear, to what extent and in what ways this strategy would affect the range formation of species. In order to fill this gap, we present a study using individual-based simulations of a species with discrete generations living along a dispersal mortality gradient. We compare the evolution of range sizes for species following density-dependent and density-independent emigration. Furthermore we assess the influence of environmental stochasticity and Allee effects on range formation, as both processes are known to play an important role for dispersal evolution. We find that density-dependent dispersal always results in much wider ranges than unconditional dispersal. Increasing environmental stochasticity, a predicted consequence of climate change, can remarkably expand the ranges of species living in such connectivity gradients if dispersal decisions are based on local population density. A strong Allee effect causes range contraction for both strategies, but the effect is considerably less dramatic under density-dependent compared to density-independent emigration. We strongly recommend accounting for these findings in future attempts to model species range shifts due to climate change.}, author = {Kubisch, Alexander and Poethke, Hans-Joachim and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {Ecography}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {dec}, note = {WOS:000297738200010}, number = 6, pages = {1002–1008}, title = {Density-dependent dispersal and the formation of range borders.}, volume = 34, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 kubisch_density-dependent_2011 %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2011 %J Ecography %N 6 %P 1002--1008 %R 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2010.06744.x %T Density-dependent dispersal and the formation of range borders. %V 34 %X Knowledge about the mechanisms of range formation is crucial for scientifically based species conservation strategies in the face of ongoing global climate change. In recent years an increasing amount of studies have focused on the influences of density-dependent dispersal on demographic and biogeographical patterns. However, it still remains unclear, to what extent and in what ways this strategy would affect the range formation of species. In order to fill this gap, we present a study using individual-based simulations of a species with discrete generations living along a dispersal mortality gradient. We compare the evolution of range sizes for species following density-dependent and density-independent emigration. Furthermore we assess the influence of environmental stochasticity and Allee effects on range formation, as both processes are known to play an important role for dispersal evolution. We find that density-dependent dispersal always results in much wider ranges than unconditional dispersal. Increasing environmental stochasticity, a predicted consequence of climate change, can remarkably expand the ranges of species living in such connectivity gradients if dispersal decisions are based on local population density. A strong Allee effect causes range contraction for both strategies, but the effect is considerably less dramatic under density-dependent compared to density-independent emigration. We strongly recommend accounting for these findings in future attempts to model species range shifts due to climate change.
• A metapopulation paradox: Partial improvement of habitat may reduce metapopulation persistence Poethke, Hans J.; Dytham, Calvin; Hovestadt, Thomas in American Naturalist (2011). 177(6) 792–799.
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  @article{poethke_metapopulation_2011, abstract = {The adverse influence of habitat degradation on the survival of populations may sometimes be amplified by rapid evolution over ecological timescales. This phenomenon of "evolutionary suicide" has been described in theoretical as well as empirical studies. However, no studies have suggested that habitat improvement could possibly also trigger an evolutionary response that would result in a decline in population size. We use individual-based simulations to demonstrate the potential for such a paradoxical response. An increase in the quality, size, or stability of only a fraction of the habitat patches in a metapopulation may result in an evolutionary decline in the dispersal propensity of individuals, followed by a decrease in recolonization, a reduction in the number of patches occupied, a decline in overall population size, and even extinction. Thus, well-intended conservation efforts that ignore potential evolutionary consequences of habitat management may increase the extinction risk of populations.}, author = {Poethke, Hans J. and Dytham, Calvin and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {American Naturalist}, keywords = {metapopulation}, month = {jun}, note = {WOS:000290953000009}, number = 6, pages = {792–799}, title = {A metapopulation paradox: {Partial} improvement of habitat may reduce metapopulation persistence}, volume = 177, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 poethke_metapopulation_2011 %A Poethke, Hans J. %A Dytham, Calvin %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2011 %J American Naturalist %N 6 %P 792--799 %R 10.1086/659995 %T A metapopulation paradox: Partial improvement of habitat may reduce metapopulation persistence %V 177 %X The adverse influence of habitat degradation on the survival of populations may sometimes be amplified by rapid evolution over ecological timescales. This phenomenon of "evolutionary suicide" has been described in theoretical as well as empirical studies. However, no studies have suggested that habitat improvement could possibly also trigger an evolutionary response that would result in a decline in population size. We use individual-based simulations to demonstrate the potential for such a paradoxical response. An increase in the quality, size, or stability of only a fraction of the habitat patches in a metapopulation may result in an evolutionary decline in the dispersal propensity of individuals, followed by a decrease in recolonization, a reduction in the number of patches occupied, a decline in overall population size, and even extinction. Thus, well-intended conservation efforts that ignore potential evolutionary consequences of habitat management may increase the extinction risk of populations.
• Availability and depletion of fat reserves in halictid foundress queens with a focus on solitary nest founding Weissel, N.; Mitesser, O.; Poethke, H.-J.; Strohm, E. in Insectes Sociaux (2011). 59(1) 67–74.
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  @article{weissel_availability_2011, abstract = {Foundress queens of social Hymenoptera require considerable amounts of energy for survival, solitary nest founding, provisioning of the first brood, and egg production. Energy reserves in insects mostly consist of fat. We investigated how hibernation and the subsequent flight season, especially the solitary nest founding phase, influenced the abdominal fat content of gynes in the primitively eusocial sweat bee, Lasioglossum malachurum (Hymenoptera, Halictidae). In our study population, sexuals are produced in both the second and the third broods. Emerging gynes of the third brood had significantly more fat than those of the second brood, whereas there was no such difference in males. As expected, fat reserves in samples of female sexuals caught at emergence, after hibernation, during solitary nest founding, and at the end of the social phase of the nest cycle indicate a severe decrease of reserves that was highest during the 7 weeks of the solitary founding phase. Thus, the amount of fat reserves of foundress queens seems to be crucial, particularly for nest founding. However, investment of energy reserves in the solitary nest founding phase has probably to be balanced with the subsequent social phase in a way that maximizes the queen’s fitness. Possible consequences for the complexity and progress of the nest cycle are discussed.}, author = {Weissel, N. and Mitesser, O. and Poethke, H.-J. and Strohm, E.}, journal = {Insectes Sociaux}, keywords = {store,}, month = {aug}, number = 1, pages = {67–74}, title = {Availability and depletion of fat reserves in halictid foundress queens with a focus on solitary nest founding}, volume = 59, year = 2011 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 weissel_availability_2011 %A Weissel, N. %A Mitesser, O. %A Poethke, H.-J. %A Strohm, E. %D 2011 %J Insectes Sociaux %N 1 %P 67--74 %R 10.1007/s00040-011-0189-3 %T Availability and depletion of fat reserves in halictid foundress queens with a focus on solitary nest founding %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00040-011-0189-3 %V 59 %X Foundress queens of social Hymenoptera require considerable amounts of energy for survival, solitary nest founding, provisioning of the first brood, and egg production. Energy reserves in insects mostly consist of fat. We investigated how hibernation and the subsequent flight season, especially the solitary nest founding phase, influenced the abdominal fat content of gynes in the primitively eusocial sweat bee, Lasioglossum malachurum (Hymenoptera, Halictidae). In our study population, sexuals are produced in both the second and the third broods. Emerging gynes of the third brood had significantly more fat than those of the second brood, whereas there was no such difference in males. As expected, fat reserves in samples of female sexuals caught at emergence, after hibernation, during solitary nest founding, and at the end of the social phase of the nest cycle indicate a severe decrease of reserves that was highest during the 7 weeks of the solitary founding phase. Thus, the amount of fat reserves of foundress queens seems to be crucial, particularly for nest founding. However, investment of energy reserves in the solitary nest founding phase has probably to be balanced with the subsequent social phase in a way that maximizes the queen’s fitness. Possible consequences for the complexity and progress of the nest cycle are discussed.

• Information processing in models for density-dependent emigration: A comparison Hovestadt, Thomas; Kubisch, Alexander; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Ecological Modelling (2010). 221(3) 405–410.
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  @article{hovestadt_information_2010, abstract = {Density-dependent emigration has been recognized as a fitness enhancing strategy. Yet, especially in the modelling literature there is no consensus about how density-dependent emigration should quantitatively be incorporated into metapopulation models. In this paper we compare the performance of five different dispersal strategies (defined by the functional link between density and emigration probability). Four of these strategies are based on published functional relationships between local population density and emigration probability, one assumes density-independent dispersal. We use individual-based simulations of time-discrete metapopulation dynamics and conduct evolution experiments for a broad range of values for dispersal mortality and environmental stochasticity. For each set of these conditions we analyze the evolution of emigration rates in 'monoculture experiments' (with only one type of dispersal strategy used by all individuals in the metapopulation) as well as in selection experiments that allow a pair-wise comparison of the performance of each functional type. We find that a single-parameter 'asymptotic threshold' strategy - derived from the marginal value theorem - with a decelerating increase of emigration rate with increasing population density, out-competes any other strategy, i.e. density-independent emigration, a 'linear threshold' strategy and a flexible three-parameter strategy. Only when environmental conditions select for extremely high emigration probabilities (close to one), strategies may perform approximately equally. A simple threshold strategy derived for the case of continuous population growth performs even worse than the density-independent strategy. As the functional type of the dispersal function implemented in metapopulation models may severely affect predictions concerning the survival of populations, range expansion, or community changes we clearly recommend to carefully select adequate functions to model density-dependent dispersal. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, author = {Hovestadt, Thomas and Kubisch, Alexander and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Ecological Modelling}, keywords = {pollination}, month = {feb}, note = {WOS:000273866700004}, number = 3, pages = {405–410}, title = {Information processing in models for density-dependent emigration: {A} comparison}, volume = 221, year = 2010 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hovestadt_information_2010 %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2010 %J Ecological Modelling %N 3 %P 405--410 %R 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.11.005 %T Information processing in models for density-dependent emigration: A comparison %V 221 %X Density-dependent emigration has been recognized as a fitness enhancing strategy. Yet, especially in the modelling literature there is no consensus about how density-dependent emigration should quantitatively be incorporated into metapopulation models. In this paper we compare the performance of five different dispersal strategies (defined by the functional link between density and emigration probability). Four of these strategies are based on published functional relationships between local population density and emigration probability, one assumes density-independent dispersal. We use individual-based simulations of time-discrete metapopulation dynamics and conduct evolution experiments for a broad range of values for dispersal mortality and environmental stochasticity. For each set of these conditions we analyze the evolution of emigration rates in 'monoculture experiments' (with only one type of dispersal strategy used by all individuals in the metapopulation) as well as in selection experiments that allow a pair-wise comparison of the performance of each functional type. We find that a single-parameter 'asymptotic threshold' strategy - derived from the marginal value theorem - with a decelerating increase of emigration rate with increasing population density, out-competes any other strategy, i.e. density-independent emigration, a 'linear threshold' strategy and a flexible three-parameter strategy. Only when environmental conditions select for extremely high emigration probabilities (close to one), strategies may perform approximately equally. A simple threshold strategy derived for the case of continuous population growth performs even worse than the density-independent strategy. As the functional type of the dispersal function implemented in metapopulation models may severely affect predictions concerning the survival of populations, range expansion, or community changes we clearly recommend to carefully select adequate functions to model density-dependent dispersal. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• On the elasticity of range limits during periods of expansion Kubisch, Alexander; Hovestadt, Thomas; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Ecology (2010). 91(10) 3094–3099.
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  @article{kubisch_elasticity_2010, abstract = {Dispersal is known to play a crucial role in the formation of species' ranges. Recent studies demonstrate that dispersiveness increases rapidly during the range expansion of species due to a fitness increase for dispersers at the expanding front. R. D. Holt concluded, however, that emigration should decline after the period of invasion and hence predicted some range contraction following the initial expansion phase. In this study, we evaluate this hypothesis using a spatially explicit individual-based model of populations distributed along environmental gradients. In our experiments we allow the species to spread along a gradient of declining conditions. Results show that range contraction did emerge in a gradient of dispersal mortality, caused by the rapid increase in emigration probability during invasion and selection disfavoring dispersal, once a stable range is formed. However, gradients in growth rate, local extinction rate, and patch capacity did not lead to a noticeable contraction of the range. We conclude, that the phenomenon of range contraction may emerge, but only under conditions that select for a reduction in dispersal at the range edge in comparison to the core region once the expansion period is over.}, author = {Kubisch, Alexander and Hovestadt, Thomas and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Ecology}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {oct}, note = {WOS:000282654700027}, number = 10, pages = {3094–3099}, title = {On the elasticity of range limits during periods of expansion}, volume = 91, year = 2010 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 kubisch_elasticity_2010 %A Kubisch, Alexander %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2010 %J Ecology %N 10 %P 3094--3099 %R 10.1890/09-2022.1 %T On the elasticity of range limits during periods of expansion %V 91 %X Dispersal is known to play a crucial role in the formation of species' ranges. Recent studies demonstrate that dispersiveness increases rapidly during the range expansion of species due to a fitness increase for dispersers at the expanding front. R. D. Holt concluded, however, that emigration should decline after the period of invasion and hence predicted some range contraction following the initial expansion phase. In this study, we evaluate this hypothesis using a spatially explicit individual-based model of populations distributed along environmental gradients. In our experiments we allow the species to spread along a gradient of declining conditions. Results show that range contraction did emerge in a gradient of dispersal mortality, caused by the rapid increase in emigration probability during invasion and selection disfavoring dispersal, once a stable range is formed. However, gradients in growth rate, local extinction rate, and patch capacity did not lead to a noticeable contraction of the range. We conclude, that the phenomenon of range contraction may emerge, but only under conditions that select for a reduction in dispersal at the range edge in comparison to the core region once the expansion period is over.
• Structure and size of a threatened population of the False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus (FABRICIUS, 1787)(Lepidoptera: {Nymphalidae}) in Hungary Örvössy, Noémi; Vozár, Ágnes; Kőrösi, Ádám; Batáry, Péter; Peregovits, László in Oedipus (2010). 26 31–37.
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  @article{orvossy_structure_2010, author = {Örvössy, Noémi and Vozár, Ágnes and Kőrösi, Ádám and Batáry, Péter and Peregovits, László}, journal = {Oedipus}, keywords = {imported}, pages = {31–37}, title = {Structure and size of a threatened population of the {False} {Ringlet} {Coenonympha} oedippus ({FABRICIUS}, 1787)({Lepidoptera}: {Nymphalidae}) in {Hungary}}, volume = 26, year = 2010 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 orvossy_structure_2010 %A Örvössy, Noémi %A Vozár, Ágnes %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Batáry, Péter %A Peregovits, László %D 2010 %J Oedipus %P 31--37 %T Structure and size of a threatened population of the False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus (FABRICIUS, 1787)(Lepidoptera: {Nymphalidae}) in Hungary %U http://134.76.21.39/goescholar/bitstream/handle/1/7416/10405-06%5b1%5d.pdf?sequence=1 %V 26
• Predator‐Induced Dispersal and the Evolution of Conditional Dispersal in Correlated Environments Poethke, Hans Joachim; Weisser, Wolfgang W.; Hovestadt, Thomas in The American Naturalist (2010). 175(5) 577–586.
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  @article{poethke_predatorinduced_2010, author = {Poethke, Hans Joachim and Weisser, Wolfgang W. and Hovestadt, Thomas}, journal = {The American Naturalist}, keywords = {dispersal}, month = {may}, number = 5, pages = {577–586}, title = {Predator‐{Induced} {Dispersal} and the {Evolution} of {Conditional} {Dispersal} in {Correlated} {Environments}}, volume = 175, year = 2010 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 poethke_predatorinduced_2010 %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %A Weisser, Wolfgang W. %A Hovestadt, Thomas %D 2010 %J The American Naturalist %N 5 %P 577--586 %R 10.1086/651595 %T Predator‐Induced Dispersal and the Evolution of Conditional Dispersal in Correlated Environments %U http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/651595 %V 175
• Correlations between Sequential Timing Decisions Do Not Necessarily Indicate Strategic Behavior: A Comment on Bêty et al. Schroeder, Julia; Mitesser, Oliver; Hinsch, Martin; Solow, Associate Editor: Andrew R.; Shaw, Editor: Ruth G. in American Naturalist (2010). 176(6) 835–837.
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  @article{schroeder_correlations_2010, abstract = {Abstract: Using correlation analysis, Bêty, Gauthier, and Giroux confirmed that individuals of the migrating snow geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica) arriving earlier on their breeding grounds experienced longer prelaying periods but laid earlier than late‐arriving birds. They concluded that these birds strategically adjusted timing to optimize fitness. This test is, however, not sufficient to indicate strategic behavior. We show analytically that, without assuming strategic behavior, arrival date, prelaying period, and laying date are correlated with each other because of their sequential occurrence. We conclude that correlation tests on sequentially occurring variables are not sufficient to detect nonrandom relations.}, author = {Schroeder, Julia and Mitesser, Oliver and Hinsch, Martin and Solow, Associate Editor: Andrew R. and Shaw, Editor: Ruth G.}, journal = {American Naturalist}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, number = 6, pages = {835–837}, title = {Correlations between {Sequential} {Timing} {Decisions} {Do} {Not} {Necessarily} {Indicate} {Strategic} {Behavior}: {A} {Comment} on {Bêty} et al.}, volume = 176, year = 2010 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 schroeder_correlations_2010 %A Schroeder, Julia %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Hinsch, Martin %A Solow, Associate Editor: Andrew R. %A Shaw, Editor: Ruth G. %D 2010 %J American Naturalist %N 6 %P 835--837 %R 10.1086/657275 %T Correlations between Sequential Timing Decisions Do Not Necessarily Indicate Strategic Behavior: A Comment on Bêty et al. %U http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/657275 %V 176 %X Abstract: Using correlation analysis, Bêty, Gauthier, and Giroux confirmed that individuals of the migrating snow geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica) arriving earlier on their breeding grounds experienced longer prelaying periods but laid earlier than late‐arriving birds. They concluded that these birds strategically adjusted timing to optimize fitness. This test is, however, not sufficient to indicate strategic behavior. We show analytically that, without assuming strategic behavior, arrival date, prelaying period, and laying date are correlated with each other because of their sequential occurrence. We conclude that correlation tests on sequentially occurring variables are not sufficient to detect nonrandom relations.

• Effect of vegetation density, height, and connectivity on the oviposition pattern of the leaf beetle Galeruca tanaceti Randlkofer, Barbara; Jordan, Florian; Mitesser, Oliver; Meiners, Torsten; Obermaier, Elisabeth in Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2009). 132(2) 134–146.
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  @article{randlkofer_effect_2009, abstract = {Vegetation structure can profoundly influence patterns of abundance, distribution, and reproduction of herbivorous insects and their susceptibility to natural enemies. The three main structural traits of herbaceous vegetation are density, height, and connectivity. This study determined the herbivore response to each of these three parameters by analysing oviposition patterns in the field and studying the underlying mechanisms in laboratory bioassays. The generalist leaf beetle, Galeruca tanaceti L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), preferentially deposits its egg clutches on non-host plants such as grasses. Earlier studies revealed that oviposition within structurally complex vegetation reduces the risk of egg parasitism. Consequently, leaf beetle females should prefer patches with dense, tall, or connected vegetation for oviposition in order to increase their reproductive success. In the present study, we tested the following three hypotheses on the effect of stem density, height, and connectivity on oviposition: (1) Within habitats, the number of egg clutches in areas with high stem densities is disproportionately higher than in low-density areas. The number of egg clutches on (2) tall stems or (3) in vegetation with high connectivity is higher than expected for a random distribution. In the field, stem density and height were positively correlated with egg clutch presence. Moreover, a disproportionately high presence of egg clutches was determined in patches with high stem densities. Stem height had a positive influence on oviposition, also in a laboratory two-choice bioassay, whereas stem density and connectivity did not affect oviposition preferences in the laboratory. Therefore, stem height and, potentially, density, but not connectivity, seem to trigger oviposition site selection of the herbivore. This study made evident that certain, but not all traits of the vegetation structure can impose a strong influence on oviposition patterns of herbivorous insects. The results were finally compared with data on the movement patterns of the specialised egg parasitoid of the herbivore in comparable types of vegetation structure.}, author = {Randlkofer, Barbara and Jordan, Florian and Mitesser, Oliver and Meiners, Torsten and Obermaier, Elisabeth}, journal = {Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata}, keywords = {vegetation}, month = {aug}, number = 2, pages = {134–146}, title = {Effect of vegetation density, height, and connectivity on the oviposition pattern of the leaf beetle {Galeruca} tanaceti}, volume = 132, year = 2009 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 randlkofer_effect_2009 %A Randlkofer, Barbara %A Jordan, Florian %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Meiners, Torsten %A Obermaier, Elisabeth %D 2009 %J Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata %N 2 %P 134--146 %R 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2009.00872.x %T Effect of vegetation density, height, and connectivity on the oviposition pattern of the leaf beetle Galeruca tanaceti %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2009.00872.x/abstract %V 132 %X Vegetation structure can profoundly influence patterns of abundance, distribution, and reproduction of herbivorous insects and their susceptibility to natural enemies. The three main structural traits of herbaceous vegetation are density, height, and connectivity. This study determined the herbivore response to each of these three parameters by analysing oviposition patterns in the field and studying the underlying mechanisms in laboratory bioassays. The generalist leaf beetle, Galeruca tanaceti L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), preferentially deposits its egg clutches on non-host plants such as grasses. Earlier studies revealed that oviposition within structurally complex vegetation reduces the risk of egg parasitism. Consequently, leaf beetle females should prefer patches with dense, tall, or connected vegetation for oviposition in order to increase their reproductive success. In the present study, we tested the following three hypotheses on the effect of stem density, height, and connectivity on oviposition: (1) Within habitats, the number of egg clutches in areas with high stem densities is disproportionately higher than in low-density areas. The number of egg clutches on (2) tall stems or (3) in vegetation with high connectivity is higher than expected for a random distribution. In the field, stem density and height were positively correlated with egg clutch presence. Moreover, a disproportionately high presence of egg clutches was determined in patches with high stem densities. Stem height had a positive influence on oviposition, also in a laboratory two-choice bioassay, whereas stem density and connectivity did not affect oviposition preferences in the laboratory. Therefore, stem height and, potentially, density, but not connectivity, seem to trigger oviposition site selection of the herbivore. This study made evident that certain, but not all traits of the vegetation structure can impose a strong influence on oviposition patterns of herbivorous insects. The results were finally compared with data on the movement patterns of the specialised egg parasitoid of the herbivore in comparable types of vegetation structure.

• Egg distribution of the southern festoon (Zerynthia polyxena)(Lepidoptera, {Papilionidae}) Batáry, P.; Örvössy, N.; Kőrösi, Á; Peregovits, L. in Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientarum Hungaricae (2008). 54 401–410.
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  @article{batary_egg_2008, author = {Batáry, P. and Örvössy, N. and Kőrösi, Á and Peregovits, L.}, journal = {Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientarum Hungaricae}, keywords = {imported}, pages = {401–410}, title = {Egg distribution of the southern festoon ({Zerynthia} polyxena)({Lepidoptera}, {Papilionidae})}, volume = 54, year = 2008 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 batary_egg_2008 %A Batáry, P. %A Örvössy, N. %A Kőrösi, Á %A Peregovits, L. %D 2008 %J Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientarum Hungaricae %P 401--410 %T Egg distribution of the southern festoon (Zerynthia polyxena)(Lepidoptera, {Papilionidae}) %U http://134.76.21.39/goescholar/handle/1/7786 %V 54
• Species-specific distribution of two sympatric Maculinea butterflies across different meadow edges Batáry, Péter; Kőrösi, Ádám; Örvössy, Noémi; Kövér, Szilvia; Peregovits, László in Journal of Insect Conservation (2008). 13(2) 223–230.
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  @article{batary_species-specific_2008, abstract = {An important consequence of habitat fragmentation is the increase of edge habitats. Environmental factors in the edges are different from those in the interiors, which causes changes in the distribution of plant and animal species. We aimed to study how edges affect the distribution of two butterfly species within meadow fragments. We therefore investigated the effect of distance from edge and edge type (road edge versus tree edge) on two sympatric large blue species (Maculinea teleius and M. nausithous). Our results showed that edge type had contrasting effects on the two species. M. teleius favoured both interiors and road edges, while M. nausithous preferred the tree edges. In the case of the latter species a strong positive edge effect was also found. This kind of within-habitat niche segregation is probably related to the different microenvironmental conditions at the edges. Foodplant density did not seem to limit the distribution of these species. Our results suggest that interiors of meadows are important for M. teleius, while tree edges maintain the habitats of the regionally rarer butterfly, M. nausithous.}, author = {Batáry, Péter and Kőrösi, Ádám and Örvössy, Noémi and Kövér, Szilvia and Peregovits, László}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, keywords = {imported}, month = {mar}, number = 2, pages = {223–230}, title = {Species-specific distribution of two sympatric {Maculinea} butterflies across different meadow edges}, volume = 13, year = 2008 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 batary_species-specific_2008 %A Batáry, Péter %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Örvössy, Noémi %A Kövér, Szilvia %A Peregovits, László %D 2008 %J Journal of Insect Conservation %N 2 %P 223--230 %R 10.1007/s10841-008-9158-1 %T Species-specific distribution of two sympatric Maculinea butterflies across different meadow edges %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-008-9158-1 %V 13 %X An important consequence of habitat fragmentation is the increase of edge habitats. Environmental factors in the edges are different from those in the interiors, which causes changes in the distribution of plant and animal species. We aimed to study how edges affect the distribution of two butterfly species within meadow fragments. We therefore investigated the effect of distance from edge and edge type (road edge versus tree edge) on two sympatric large blue species (Maculinea teleius and M. nausithous). Our results showed that edge type had contrasting effects on the two species. M. teleius favoured both interiors and road edges, while M. nausithous preferred the tree edges. In the case of the latter species a strong positive edge effect was also found. This kind of within-habitat niche segregation is probably related to the different microenvironmental conditions at the edges. Foodplant density did not seem to limit the distribution of these species. Our results suggest that interiors of meadows are important for M. teleius, while tree edges maintain the habitats of the regionally rarer butterfly, M. nausithous.
• Plant architecture and vegetation structure: two ways for insect herbivores to escape parasitism Obermaier, Elisabeth; Heisswolf, Annette; Poethke, Hans Joachim; Randlkofer, Barbara; Meiners, Torsten in European Journal of Entomology (2008). 105(2) 233.
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  @article{obermaier_plant_2008, author = {Obermaier, Elisabeth and Heisswolf, Annette and Poethke, Hans Joachim and Randlkofer, Barbara and Meiners, Torsten}, journal = {European Journal of Entomology}, keywords = {imported}, number = 2, pages = 233, title = {Plant architecture and vegetation structure: two ways for insect herbivores to escape parasitism}, volume = 105, year = 2008 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 obermaier_plant_2008 %A Obermaier, Elisabeth %A Heisswolf, Annette %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %A Randlkofer, Barbara %A Meiners, Torsten %D 2008 %J European Journal of Entomology %N 2 %P 233 %T Plant architecture and vegetation structure: two ways for insect herbivores to escape parasitism %U http://search.proquest.com/openview/1f1985cbb93abb6ad441393c3381b465/1?pq-origsite=gscholar %V 105

• Microhabitat preferences of Maculinea teleius (Lepidoptera: {Lycaenidae}) in a mosaic landscape Batáry, Péter; Örvössy, Noémi; Kőrösi, Ádám; Nagy, Marianna Vályi; Peregovits, László in European Journal of Entomology (2007). 104(4) 731.
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  @article{batary_microhabitat_2007, author = {Batáry, Péter and Örvössy, Noémi and Kőrösi, Ádám and Nagy, Marianna Vályi and Peregovits, László}, journal = {European Journal of Entomology}, keywords = {imported}, number = 4, pages = 731, title = {Microhabitat preferences of {Maculinea} teleius ({Lepidoptera}: {Lycaenidae}) in a mosaic landscape}, volume = 104, year = 2007 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 batary_microhabitat_2007 %A Batáry, Péter %A Örvössy, Noémi %A Kőrösi, Ádám %A Nagy, Marianna Vályi %A Peregovits, László %D 2007 %J European Journal of Entomology %N 4 %P 731 %T Microhabitat preferences of Maculinea teleius (Lepidoptera: {Lycaenidae}) in a mosaic landscape %U http://search.proquest.com/openview/ec966137122513995aeb1879600dcbed/1?pq-origsite=gscholar %V 104
• The generality of habitat suitability models: A practical test with two insect groups Hein, Silke; Binzenhöfer, Birgit; Poethke, Hans-Joachim; Biedermann, Robert; Settele, Josef; Schröder, Boris in Basic and Applied Ecology (2007). 8(4) 310–320.
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  @article{hein_generality_2007, abstract = {Summary For the design and declaration of conservation areas as well as for planning habitat management it is important to quantitatively know the habitat preferences of the focal species. To take into account the requirements of as many species as possible, it would be of great advantage if one would either (i) find one or several species whose habitat requirements cover those of a large number of other species or if one could (ii) identify a common set of habitat parameters that is important for the occurrence of many species. Ideally such common habitat parameters should be easy to measure. Only then they may be of practical value in applied conservation biology. In this study, we compared the habitat preferences of different insect species (grasshoppers, bush crickets, butterflies, moths) in the same region by applying identical methods. To identify common explanatory variables that predict the occurrence probability of these species, we first tested the transferability of the specific ‘species models’ to other species within the same insect group. We tested how well the incidence of one species can be predicted by the occurrence probability of another species. The ‘best’ models within each group were then tested for transferability between the different groups. Additionally, we tested the predictive power of the predictor variable ‘habitat type’ as an easy and often available measure for conservation practice. Although in the different ‘species models’ different key factors determine habitat suitability, some models were successfully transferred and were able to reasonably predict the distribution of other species. The habitat preferences of the burnet moth Zygaena carniolica were particularly well suited for the prediction of suitable habitats for all other species. In addition, the predictor variable ‘habitat type’ played a dominant role in all models. Models using this aggregated predictor variable may well predict suitable habitat for all species.}, author = {Hein, Silke and Binzenhöfer, Birgit and Poethke, Hans-Joachim and Biedermann, Robert and Settele, Josef and Schröder, Boris}, journal = {Basic and Applied Ecology}, keywords = {transferability,}, month = {jul}, number = 4, pages = {310–320}, title = {The generality of habitat suitability models: {A} practical test with two insect groups}, volume = 8, year = 2007 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hein_generality_2007 %A Hein, Silke %A Binzenhöfer, Birgit %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %A Biedermann, Robert %A Settele, Josef %A Schröder, Boris %D 2007 %J Basic and Applied Ecology %N 4 %P 310--320 %R 10.1016/j.baae.2006.09.012 %T The generality of habitat suitability models: A practical test with two insect groups %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179106000995 %V 8 %X Summary For the design and declaration of conservation areas as well as for planning habitat management it is important to quantitatively know the habitat preferences of the focal species. To take into account the requirements of as many species as possible, it would be of great advantage if one would either (i) find one or several species whose habitat requirements cover those of a large number of other species or if one could (ii) identify a common set of habitat parameters that is important for the occurrence of many species. Ideally such common habitat parameters should be easy to measure. Only then they may be of practical value in applied conservation biology. In this study, we compared the habitat preferences of different insect species (grasshoppers, bush crickets, butterflies, moths) in the same region by applying identical methods. To identify common explanatory variables that predict the occurrence probability of these species, we first tested the transferability of the specific ‘species models’ to other species within the same insect group. We tested how well the incidence of one species can be predicted by the occurrence probability of another species. The ‘best’ models within each group were then tested for transferability between the different groups. Additionally, we tested the predictive power of the predictor variable ‘habitat type’ as an easy and often available measure for conservation practice. Although in the different ‘species models’ different key factors determine habitat suitability, some models were successfully transferred and were able to reasonably predict the distribution of other species. The habitat preferences of the burnet moth Zygaena carniolica were particularly well suited for the prediction of suitable habitats for all other species. In addition, the predictor variable ‘habitat type’ played a dominant role in all models. Models using this aggregated predictor variable may well predict suitable habitat for all species.
• Host plant finding in the specialised leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata: an analysis of small-scale movement behaviour Heisswolf, Annette; Ulmann, Sandra; Obermaier, Elisabeth; Mitesser, Oliver; Poethke, Hans Joachim in Ecological Entomology (2007). 32(2) 194–200.
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  @article{heisswolf_host_2007, abstract = {Abstract 1. Host plant finding in walking herbivorous beetles is still poorly understood. Analysis of small-scale movement patterns under semi-natural conditions can be a useful tool to detect behavioural responses towards host plant cues. 2. In this study, the small-scale movement behaviour of the monophagous leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata Laich. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was studied in a semi-natural arena (r = 1 m). In three different settings, a host (Salvia pratensis L., Lamiales: Lamiaceae), a non-host (Rumex conglomeratus Murr., Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae), or no plant was presented in the centre of the arena. 3. The beetles showed no differences in the absolute movement variables, straightness and mean walking speed, between the three settings. However, the relative movement variables, mean distance to the centre and mean angular deviation from walking straight to the centre, were significantly smaller when a host plant was offered. Likewise, the angular deviation from walking straight to the centre tended to decline with decreasing distance from the centre. Finally, significantly more beetles were found on the host than on the non-host at the end of all the trials. 4. It is concluded that C. canaliculata is able to recognise its host plant from a distance. Whether olfactory or visual cues (or a combination of both) are used to find the host plant remains to be elucidated by further studies.}, author = {Heisswolf, Annette and Ulmann, Sandra and Obermaier, Elisabeth and Mitesser, Oliver and Poethke, Hans Joachim}, journal = {Ecological Entomology}, keywords = {walking}, number = 2, pages = {194–200}, title = {Host plant finding in the specialised leaf beetle {Cassida} canaliculata: an analysis of small-scale movement behaviour}, volume = 32, year = 2007 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 heisswolf_host_2007 %A Heisswolf, Annette %A Ulmann, Sandra %A Obermaier, Elisabeth %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %D 2007 %J Ecological Entomology %N 2 %P 194--200 %R 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2006.00858.x %T Host plant finding in the specialised leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata: an analysis of small-scale movement behaviour %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2311.2006.00858.x/abstract %V 32 %X Abstract 1. Host plant finding in walking herbivorous beetles is still poorly understood. Analysis of small-scale movement patterns under semi-natural conditions can be a useful tool to detect behavioural responses towards host plant cues. 2. In this study, the small-scale movement behaviour of the monophagous leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata Laich. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was studied in a semi-natural arena (r = 1 m). In three different settings, a host (Salvia pratensis L., Lamiales: Lamiaceae), a non-host (Rumex conglomeratus Murr., Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae), or no plant was presented in the centre of the arena. 3. The beetles showed no differences in the absolute movement variables, straightness and mean walking speed, between the three settings. However, the relative movement variables, mean distance to the centre and mean angular deviation from walking straight to the centre, were significantly smaller when a host plant was offered. Likewise, the angular deviation from walking straight to the centre tended to decline with decreasing distance from the centre. Finally, significantly more beetles were found on the host than on the non-host at the end of all the trials. 4. It is concluded that C. canaliculata is able to recognise its host plant from a distance. Whether olfactory or visual cues (or a combination of both) are used to find the host plant remains to be elucidated by further studies.
• Consequences of cyclic vegetation management for arthropod survival: Simulation experiments Hinsch, Martin; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Basic and Applied Ecology (2007). 8(4) 321–331.
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  @article{hinsch_consequences_2007, abstract = {Summary Many rare arthropod species occupy open grasslands. Mowing or grazing is needed to preserve the habitat for these species. Alternatively the vegetation cover in parts of the managed area can be periodically destroyed by ploughing or rototilling. Such treatment results in a dynamic mosaic of habitat patches in different stages of succession. This mosaic may serve as a habitat for many species. However, the interplay between the frequency of rototilling, the spatial structure of the landscape and life history attributes of the animal species will determine the success of such cyclic management strategies. We used a spatially implicit individual-based metapopulation model to examine optimal spatio-temporal management strategies. The model explicitly incorporates succession, population dynamics and dispersal between habitat patches. Optimal management patterns strongly depend on the species’ properties. Our simulation experiments show that in general the more fertile species with strong intraspecific competition are most robust against the large fluctuations of habitat quality resulting from cyclic management. However, the best management strategies found in our experiments cover the requirements of up to 70\% of the species tested. Frequent management of relatively small sub-areas minimizes local fluctiations of patch capacity. Though reducing effective patch capacity by more than 50\% these strategies may support the survival of the majority of species.}, author = {Hinsch, Martin and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Basic and Applied Ecology}, keywords = {viability}, month = {jul}, number = 4, pages = {321–331}, title = {Consequences of cyclic vegetation management for arthropod survival: {Simulation} experiments}, volume = 8, year = 2007 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hinsch_consequences_2007 %A Hinsch, Martin %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2007 %J Basic and Applied Ecology %N 4 %P 321--331 %R 10.1016/j.baae.2006.09.011 %T Consequences of cyclic vegetation management for arthropod survival: Simulation experiments %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179106000983 %V 8 %X Summary Many rare arthropod species occupy open grasslands. Mowing or grazing is needed to preserve the habitat for these species. Alternatively the vegetation cover in parts of the managed area can be periodically destroyed by ploughing or rototilling. Such treatment results in a dynamic mosaic of habitat patches in different stages of succession. This mosaic may serve as a habitat for many species. However, the interplay between the frequency of rototilling, the spatial structure of the landscape and life history attributes of the animal species will determine the success of such cyclic management strategies. We used a spatially implicit individual-based metapopulation model to examine optimal spatio-temporal management strategies. The model explicitly incorporates succession, population dynamics and dispersal between habitat patches. Optimal management patterns strongly depend on the species’ properties. Our simulation experiments show that in general the more fertile species with strong intraspecific competition are most robust against the large fluctuations of habitat quality resulting from cyclic management. However, the best management strategies found in our experiments cover the requirements of up to 70% of the species tested. Frequent management of relatively small sub-areas minimizes local fluctiations of patch capacity. Though reducing effective patch capacity by more than 50% these strategies may support the survival of the majority of species.
• An evolutionarily stable strategy model for the evolution of dimorphic development in the butterfly Maculinea rebeli, a social parasite of Myrmica ant colonies Hovestadt, Thomas; Mitesser, Oliver; Elmes, Graham W.; Thomas, Jeremy A.; Hochberg, Michael E. in American Naturalist (2007). 169(4) 466–480.
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  @article{hovestadt_evolutionarily_2007, abstract = {Caterpillars of the butterfly Maculinea rebeli develop as parasites inside ant colonies. In intensively studied French populations, about 25\% of caterpillars mature within 1 year (fast-developing larvae [FDL]) and the others after 2 years (slow-developing larvae [SDL]); all available evidence indicates that this ratio is under the control of egg-laying females. We present an analytical model to predict the evolutionarily stable fraction of FDL (P-ess). The model accounts for added winter mortality of SDL, general and kin competition among caterpillars, a competitive advantage of SDL over newly entering FDL (priority effect), and the avoidance of renewed infection of ant nests by butterflies in the coming season (segregation). We come to the following conclusions: (1) all factors listed above can promote the evolution of delayed development; (2) kin competition and segregation stabilize P-ess near 0.5; and (3) a priority effect is the only mechanism potentially selecting for P-ess {\textless} 0.5. However, given the empirical data, p ESS is predicted to fall closer to 0.5 than to the 0.25 that has been observed. In this particular system, bet hedging cannot explain why more than 50\% of larvae postpone growth. Presumably, other fitness benefits for SDL, for example, higher fertility or longevity, also contribute to the evolution of delayed development. The model presented here may be of general applicability for systems where maturing individuals compete in small subgroups.}, author = {Hovestadt, Thomas and Mitesser, Oliver and Elmes, Graham W. and Thomas, Jeremy A. and Hochberg, Michael E.}, journal = {American Naturalist}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {apr}, note = {WOS:000245028000007}, number = 4, pages = {466–480}, title = {An evolutionarily stable strategy model for the evolution of dimorphic development in the butterfly {Maculinea} rebeli, a social parasite of {Myrmica} ant colonies}, volume = 169, year = 2007 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hovestadt_evolutionarily_2007 %A Hovestadt, Thomas %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Elmes, Graham W. %A Thomas, Jeremy A. %A Hochberg, Michael E. %D 2007 %J American Naturalist %N 4 %P 466--480 %R 10.1086/512134 %T An evolutionarily stable strategy model for the evolution of dimorphic development in the butterfly Maculinea rebeli, a social parasite of Myrmica ant colonies %V 169 %X Caterpillars of the butterfly Maculinea rebeli develop as parasites inside ant colonies. In intensively studied French populations, about 25% of caterpillars mature within 1 year (fast-developing larvae [FDL]) and the others after 2 years (slow-developing larvae [SDL]); all available evidence indicates that this ratio is under the control of egg-laying females. We present an analytical model to predict the evolutionarily stable fraction of FDL (P-ess). The model accounts for added winter mortality of SDL, general and kin competition among caterpillars, a competitive advantage of SDL over newly entering FDL (priority effect), and the avoidance of renewed infection of ant nests by butterflies in the coming season (segregation). We come to the following conclusions: (1) all factors listed above can promote the evolution of delayed development; (2) kin competition and segregation stabilize P-ess near 0.5; and (3) a priority effect is the only mechanism potentially selecting for P-ess textless 0.5. However, given the empirical data, p ESS is predicted to fall closer to 0.5 than to the 0.25 that has been observed. In this particular system, bet hedging cannot explain why more than 50% of larvae postpone growth. Presumably, other fitness benefits for SDL, for example, higher fertility or longevity, also contribute to the evolution of delayed development. The model presented here may be of general applicability for systems where maturing individuals compete in small subgroups.
• Mosaic cycles in agricultural landscapes of Northwest Europe Kleyer, Michael; Biedermann, Robert; Henle, Klaus; Obermaier, Elisabeth; Poethke, Hans-Joachim; Poschlod, Peter; Schröder, Boris; Settele, Josef; Vetterlein, Doris in Basic and Applied Ecology (2007). 8(4) 295–309.
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  @article{kleyer_mosaic_2007, abstract = {Mosaic cycles were originally understood as cyclical regeneration phases in forests. In this review, we shall examine how far the concept can be extended towards cyclical mosaics of habitat quality in patterned landscapes as a special case of ‘dynamic landscapes’. We will concentrate on habitats and plants in European temperate agricultural landscapes and grasslands in particular. Mosaic cycles of habitat quality are characterised by spatiotemporal shifts between disturbance and secondary succession. We found evidence for mosaic cycles in traditional agricultural systems, modern crop farming, and in recent conservation management. The relevant disturbance parameters to describe land-use drivers of mosaic cycles are spatial extent, frequency, and magnitude (biomass loss). Land-use-related drivers are usually regular and deterministic in space and time, with the exception of year-round grazing by free-ranging large herbivores. Fluctuating soil resources such as water and nutrients in interaction with climate variability add a stochastic component to these (land-use-related) drivers. The proportion of deterministic and stochastic components and their autocorrelation in time and space divides purely deterministic mosaic cycles from purely stochastic dynamic landscapes. In a second part, we briefly review plant life-history traits that may facilitate survival of plants in mosaic cycles of habitat quality. Theoretical studies emphasise (i) dispersal functions for extinction and recolonisation processes of metapopulations, (ii) storage effects as a component of buffered population growth in response to temporal fluctuations of habitat quality, and (iii) competitive ability in metacommunities. We propose a simple scheme relating these functions to the temporal and spatial correlation of patterned landscapes. There are only a very limited number of field studies available that give some support for the proposed scheme. We provide perspectives for further research in this field.}, author = {Kleyer, Michael and Biedermann, Robert and Henle, Klaus and Obermaier, Elisabeth and Poethke, Hans-Joachim and Poschlod, Peter and Schröder, Boris and Settele, Josef and Vetterlein, Doris}, journal = {Basic and Applied Ecology}, keywords = {quality,}, month = {jul}, number = 4, pages = {295–309}, title = {Mosaic cycles in agricultural landscapes of {Northwest} {Europe}}, volume = 8, year = 2007 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 kleyer_mosaic_2007 %A Kleyer, Michael %A Biedermann, Robert %A Henle, Klaus %A Obermaier, Elisabeth %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %A Poschlod, Peter %A Schröder, Boris %A Settele, Josef %A Vetterlein, Doris %D 2007 %J Basic and Applied Ecology %N 4 %P 295--309 %R 10.1016/j.baae.2007.02.002 %T Mosaic cycles in agricultural landscapes of Northwest Europe %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179107000163 %V 8 %X Mosaic cycles were originally understood as cyclical regeneration phases in forests. In this review, we shall examine how far the concept can be extended towards cyclical mosaics of habitat quality in patterned landscapes as a special case of ‘dynamic landscapes’. We will concentrate on habitats and plants in European temperate agricultural landscapes and grasslands in particular. Mosaic cycles of habitat quality are characterised by spatiotemporal shifts between disturbance and secondary succession. We found evidence for mosaic cycles in traditional agricultural systems, modern crop farming, and in recent conservation management. The relevant disturbance parameters to describe land-use drivers of mosaic cycles are spatial extent, frequency, and magnitude (biomass loss). Land-use-related drivers are usually regular and deterministic in space and time, with the exception of year-round grazing by free-ranging large herbivores. Fluctuating soil resources such as water and nutrients in interaction with climate variability add a stochastic component to these (land-use-related) drivers. The proportion of deterministic and stochastic components and their autocorrelation in time and space divides purely deterministic mosaic cycles from purely stochastic dynamic landscapes. In a second part, we briefly review plant life-history traits that may facilitate survival of plants in mosaic cycles of habitat quality. Theoretical studies emphasise (i) dispersal functions for extinction and recolonisation processes of metapopulations, (ii) storage effects as a component of buffered population growth in response to temporal fluctuations of habitat quality, and (iii) competitive ability in metacommunities. We propose a simple scheme relating these functions to the temporal and spatial correlation of patterned landscapes. There are only a very limited number of field studies available that give some support for the proposed scheme. We provide perspectives for further research in this field.
• Optimal investment allocation in primitively eusocial bees: a balance model based on resource limitation of the queen Mitesser, O.; Weissel, N.; Strohm, E.; Poethke, H. J. in Insectes Sociaux (2007). 54(3) 234–241.
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  @article{mitesser_optimal_2007, abstract = {.The classical model of colony dynamics developed by Macevicz and Oster predicts that optimal colony fitness in annual eusocial insects is achieved by a bang-bang strategy of reproduction: exclusive production of workers (ergonomic phase) followed by exclusive production of sexuals (reproductive phase). We propose an alternative model that assumes colony development in discrete broods and a limited overall investment potential of the queen. Based on the costs for producing eggs, workers, and sexuals and efficiency of individuals we predict the optimal number of workers and sexuals in the colony for each brood of the colony cycle that maximizes overall colony fitness. To link our model assumptions to the real world we chose model parameters according to field data of the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum. However, our model is representative of a large number of species with an annual life cycle and with discrete broods. Our model shows that the optimal partitioning of resources, i.e. the optimal workers/sexuals ratio depends on rearing cost for sexuals as well as productivity of workers but not on the queens’ total investment, egg cost, or rearing cost for workers. In complete accordance to Macevicz and Oster we predict a bang-bang reproduction strategy despite the differences in the basic assumptions. Potential deviations from this strategy and transitions from social to solitary breeding are discussed in the framework of our model.}, author = {Mitesser, O. and Weissel, N. and Strohm, E. and Poethke, H. J.}, journal = {Insectes Sociaux}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {jun}, number = 3, pages = {234–241}, title = {Optimal investment allocation in primitively eusocial bees: a balance model based on resource limitation of the queen}, volume = 54, year = 2007 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 mitesser_optimal_2007 %A Mitesser, O. %A Weissel, N. %A Strohm, E. %A Poethke, H. J. %D 2007 %J Insectes Sociaux %N 3 %P 234--241 %R 10.1007/s00040-007-0937-6 %T Optimal investment allocation in primitively eusocial bees: a balance model based on resource limitation of the queen %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00040-007-0937-6 %V 54 %X .The classical model of colony dynamics developed by Macevicz and Oster predicts that optimal colony fitness in annual eusocial insects is achieved by a bang-bang strategy of reproduction: exclusive production of workers (ergonomic phase) followed by exclusive production of sexuals (reproductive phase). We propose an alternative model that assumes colony development in discrete broods and a limited overall investment potential of the queen. Based on the costs for producing eggs, workers, and sexuals and efficiency of individuals we predict the optimal number of workers and sexuals in the colony for each brood of the colony cycle that maximizes overall colony fitness. To link our model assumptions to the real world we chose model parameters according to field data of the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum. However, our model is representative of a large number of species with an annual life cycle and with discrete broods. Our model shows that the optimal partitioning of resources, i.e. the optimal workers/sexuals ratio depends on rearing cost for sexuals as well as productivity of workers but not on the queens’ total investment, egg cost, or rearing cost for workers. In complete accordance to Macevicz and Oster we predict a bang-bang reproduction strategy despite the differences in the basic assumptions. Potential deviations from this strategy and transitions from social to solitary breeding are discussed in the framework of our model.

• Habitat suitability models for the conservation of thermophilic grasshoppers and bush crickets—simple or complex? Hein, Silke; Voss, Julia; Poethke, Hans-Joachim; Boris, Schröder in Journal of Insect Conservation (2006). 11(3) 221.
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  @article{hein_habitat_2006, abstract = {One goal of conservation biology is the assessment of effects of land use change on species distribution. One approach for identifying the factors, which determine habitat suitability for a species are statistical habitat distribution models. These models are quantitative and can be used for predictions in management scenarios. However, they often have one major shortcoming, which is their complexity. This means that they need several, often costly-to-determine parameters for predictions of species occurrence. We first used habitat suitability models to investigate and determine habitat preferences of three different Orthoptera species. Second, we compared the predictive powers of simple habitat suitability models considering only the ‘habitat type’ as predictor with more complex models taking different habitat factors into account. We found that the habitat type is the most reliable and robust factor, which determines the occurrence of the species studied. Thus, analyses of habitat suitability can easily be carried out on the basis of existing vegetation maps for the conservation of the three species under study. Our results can serve as a basis for the estimation of spatio-temporal distribution and survival probabilities of the species studied and might also be valuable for other species living in dry grasslands.}, author = {Hein, Silke and Voss, Julia and Poethke, Hans-Joachim and Boris, Schröder}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, keywords = {imported}, month = {dec}, number = 3, pages = 221, title = {Habitat suitability models for the conservation of thermophilic grasshoppers and bush crickets—simple or complex?}, volume = 11, year = 2006 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hein_habitat_2006 %A Hein, Silke %A Voss, Julia %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %A Boris, Schröder %D 2006 %J Journal of Insect Conservation %N 3 %P 221 %R 10.1007/s10841-006-9038-5 %T Habitat suitability models for the conservation of thermophilic grasshoppers and bush crickets—simple or complex? %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-006-9038-5 %V 11 %X One goal of conservation biology is the assessment of effects of land use change on species distribution. One approach for identifying the factors, which determine habitat suitability for a species are statistical habitat distribution models. These models are quantitative and can be used for predictions in management scenarios. However, they often have one major shortcoming, which is their complexity. This means that they need several, often costly-to-determine parameters for predictions of species occurrence. We first used habitat suitability models to investigate and determine habitat preferences of three different Orthoptera species. Second, we compared the predictive powers of simple habitat suitability models considering only the ‘habitat type’ as predictor with more complex models taking different habitat factors into account. We found that the habitat type is the most reliable and robust factor, which determines the occurrence of the species studied. Thus, analyses of habitat suitability can easily be carried out on the basis of existing vegetation maps for the conservation of the three species under study. Our results can serve as a basis for the estimation of spatio-temporal distribution and survival probabilities of the species studied and might also be valuable for other species living in dry grasslands.
• Multitrophic influences on egg distribution in a specialized leaf beetle at multiple spatial scales Heisswolf, Annette; Poethke, Hans Joachim; Obermaier, Elisabeth in Basic and Applied Ecology (2006). 7(6) 565–576.
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  @article{heisswolf_multitrophic_2006, abstract = {Summary Egg distribution in herbivorous beetles can be affected by bottom-up (host plant), and by top-down factors (parasitoids and predators), as well as by other habitat parameters. The importance of bottom-up and top-down effects may change with spatial scale. In this study, we investigated the influence of host plant factors and habitat structure on egg distribution in the leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata Laich. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a monophagous herbivore on Salvia pratensis L. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), on four spatial scales: individual host plant, microhabitat, macrohabitat, and landscape. At the individual host plant scale we studied the correlation between egg clutch incidence and plant size and quality. On all other scales we analyzed the relationship between the egg clutch incidence of C. canaliculata and host plant percentage cover, host plant density, and the surrounding vegetation structure. Vegetation structure was examined as herbivores might escape egg parasitism by depositing their eggs on sites with vegetation factors unfavorable for host searching parasitoids. The probability that egg clutches of C. canaliculata were present increased with an increasing size, percentage cover, and density of the host plant on three of the four spatial scales: individual host plant, microhabitat, and macrohabitat. There was no correlation between vegetation structure and egg clutch occurrence or parasitism on any spatial scale. A high percentage of egg clutches (38–56\%) was parasitized by Foersterella reptans Nees (Hymenoptera: Tetracampidae), the only egg parasitoid, but there was no relationship between egg parasitism and the spatial distribution of egg clutches of C. canaliculata on any of the spatial scales investigated. However, we also discuss results from a further study, which revealed top-down effects on the larval stage.}, author = {Heisswolf, Annette and Poethke, Hans Joachim and Obermaier, Elisabeth}, journal = {Basic and Applied Ecology}, keywords = {reptans,}, month = {nov}, number = 6, pages = {565–576}, title = {Multitrophic influences on egg distribution in a specialized leaf beetle at multiple spatial scales}, volume = 7, year = 2006 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 heisswolf_multitrophic_2006 %A Heisswolf, Annette %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %A Obermaier, Elisabeth %D 2006 %J Basic and Applied Ecology %N 6 %P 565--576 %R 10.1016/j.baae.2005.12.004 %T Multitrophic influences on egg distribution in a specialized leaf beetle at multiple spatial scales %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179106000089 %V 7 %X Summary Egg distribution in herbivorous beetles can be affected by bottom-up (host plant), and by top-down factors (parasitoids and predators), as well as by other habitat parameters. The importance of bottom-up and top-down effects may change with spatial scale. In this study, we investigated the influence of host plant factors and habitat structure on egg distribution in the leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata Laich. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a monophagous herbivore on Salvia pratensis L. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), on four spatial scales: individual host plant, microhabitat, macrohabitat, and landscape. At the individual host plant scale we studied the correlation between egg clutch incidence and plant size and quality. On all other scales we analyzed the relationship between the egg clutch incidence of C. canaliculata and host plant percentage cover, host plant density, and the surrounding vegetation structure. Vegetation structure was examined as herbivores might escape egg parasitism by depositing their eggs on sites with vegetation factors unfavorable for host searching parasitoids. The probability that egg clutches of C. canaliculata were present increased with an increasing size, percentage cover, and density of the host plant on three of the four spatial scales: individual host plant, microhabitat, and macrohabitat. There was no correlation between vegetation structure and egg clutch occurrence or parasitism on any spatial scale. A high percentage of egg clutches (38–56\%) was parasitized by Foersterella reptans Nees (Hymenoptera: Tetracampidae), the only egg parasitoid, but there was no relationship between egg parasitism and the spatial distribution of egg clutches of C. canaliculata on any of the spatial scales investigated. However, we also discuss results from a further study, which revealed top-down effects on the larval stage.
• Parameterizing, evaluating and comparing metapopulation models with data from individual-based simulations Hilker, Frank M.; Hinsch, Martin; Poethke, Hans Joachim in Ecological Modelling (2006). 199(4) 476–485.
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  @article{hilker_parameterizing_2006, abstract = {Due to the lack of sufficient data and appropriate ecological information parameterizing predictive population dynamical models usually is a difficult task. The approach proposed in this study is meant to overcome this problem by using detailed individual-based simulations to generate artificial data. With short-term data samples, the models to be investigated can be parameterized and their predictions be compared. The flexibility of individual-based simulations as experimental tools also facilitates the evaluation and comparison of different (aggregated) model types. The presented approach is a step towards unifying models of different complexity. As an example we applied it to two metapopulation models of insect species in a highly fragmented landscape: the well-known incidence function model with a patch-based representation of space and a grid-based analogue. The models are tested with respect to their data requirement and recommendations for a better data sampling are derived.}, author = {Hilker, Frank M. and Hinsch, Martin and Poethke, Hans Joachim}, journal = {Ecological Modelling}, keywords = {model,}, month = {dec}, number = 4, pages = {476–485}, series = {Pattern and {Processes} of {Dynamic} {Mosaic} {Landscapes} – {Modelling}, {Simulation}, and {Implications}}, title = {Parameterizing, evaluating and comparing metapopulation models with data from individual-based simulations}, volume = 199, year = 2006 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 hilker_parameterizing_2006 %A Hilker, Frank M. %A Hinsch, Martin %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %B Pattern and Processes of Dynamic Mosaic Landscapes -- Modelling, Simulation, and Implications %D 2006 %J Ecological Modelling %N 4 %P 476--485 %R 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.06.011 %T Parameterizing, evaluating and comparing metapopulation models with data from individual-based simulations %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380006002912 %V 199 %X Due to the lack of sufficient data and appropriate ecological information parameterizing predictive population dynamical models usually is a difficult task. The approach proposed in this study is meant to overcome this problem by using detailed individual-based simulations to generate artificial data. With short-term data samples, the models to be investigated can be parameterized and their predictions be compared. The flexibility of individual-based simulations as experimental tools also facilitates the evaluation and comparison of different (aggregated) model types. The presented approach is a step towards unifying models of different complexity. As an example we applied it to two metapopulation models of insect species in a highly fragmented landscape: the well-known incidence function model with a patch-based representation of space and a grid-based analogue. The models are tested with respect to their data requirement and recommendations for a better data sampling are derived.
• The evolution of activity breaks in the nest cycle of annual eusocial bees: a model of delayed exponential growth Mitesser, Oliver; Weissel, Norbert; Strohm, Erhard; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in BMC evolutionary biology (2006). 6(1) 45.
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  @article{mitesser_evolution_2006, annote = {Pages 1-12 in PDF}, author = {Mitesser, Oliver and Weissel, Norbert and Strohm, Erhard and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, number = 1, pages = 45, title = {The evolution of activity breaks in the nest cycle of annual eusocial bees: a model of delayed exponential growth}, volume = 6, year = 2006 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 mitesser_evolution_2006 %A Mitesser, Oliver %A Weissel, Norbert %A Strohm, Erhard %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2006 %J BMC evolutionary biology %N 1 %P 45 %T The evolution of activity breaks in the nest cycle of annual eusocial bees: a model of delayed exponential growth %U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/6/45 %V 6 %Z Pages 1-12 in PDF
• Variability in the life history of the water strider Gerris lacustris (Heteroptera: {Gerridae}) across small spatial scales Pfenning, B.; Poethke, H. J. in Ecological Entomology (2006). 31(2) 123–130.
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  @article{pfenning_variability_2006, abstract = {Abstract.  1. Variability in life-history traits of the common pond skater Gerris lacustris (L.) (Heteroptera: Gerridae) was investigated on a small geographical scale in Bavaria, Germany (≈ 49 °N). In an area of approximately 3.5 × 3.0 km, voltinism and wing length data of G. lacustris were recorded from 65 ponds located either in an open field or surrounded by forest. 2. Life history differed significantly between populations in the two habitat types. Gerris lacustris showed a bivoltine life-cycle in most of the field ponds with a high proportion of long-winged individuals in the diapause generation and a large increase of the short-winged morph in the midsummer generation. In contrast, almost all populations inhabiting forest ponds were univoltine. Only a few forest populations produced any second generation larvae. The long-winged morph dominated during the whole season in forest ponds. 3. The appearance of first-instar larvae was delayed by 3–4 weeks in forest ponds compared with field ponds. Presumably, low temperatures led to this reduction in the developmental rate of eggs and larvae. Consequently, ‘field larvae’ of the first generation developed under increasing daylight conditions (triggering direct reproduction and brachyptery) but ‘forest larvae’ developed under a shortening photoperiod (triggering diapause and macroptery). 4. Offspring raised from ‘forest parents’ in the laboratory showed the same variability in life history when reared in a cool (16.9 ± 2.4 °C) or warm (23.1 ± 1.8 °C) temperature regime. 5. Given the small spatial scale of the study, it is concluded that the variability in the life history of G. lacustris has a strong phenotypic component.}, author = {Pfenning, B. and Poethke, H. J.}, journal = {Ecological Entomology}, keywords = {wing}, month = {apr}, number = 2, pages = {123–130}, title = {Variability in the life history of the water strider {Gerris} lacustris ({Heteroptera}: {Gerridae}) across small spatial scales}, volume = 31, year = 2006 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 pfenning_variability_2006 %A Pfenning, B. %A Poethke, H. J. %D 2006 %J Ecological Entomology %N 2 %P 123--130 %R 10.1111/j.0307-6946.2006.00763.x %T Variability in the life history of the water strider Gerris lacustris (Heteroptera: {Gerridae}) across small spatial scales %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0307-6946.2006.00763.x/abstract %V 31 %X Abstract.  1. Variability in life-history traits of the common pond skater Gerris lacustris (L.) (Heteroptera: Gerridae) was investigated on a small geographical scale in Bavaria, Germany (≈ 49 °N). In an area of approximately 3.5 × 3.0 km, voltinism and wing length data of G. lacustris were recorded from 65 ponds located either in an open field or surrounded by forest. 2. Life history differed significantly between populations in the two habitat types. Gerris lacustris showed a bivoltine life-cycle in most of the field ponds with a high proportion of long-winged individuals in the diapause generation and a large increase of the short-winged morph in the midsummer generation. In contrast, almost all populations inhabiting forest ponds were univoltine. Only a few forest populations produced any second generation larvae. The long-winged morph dominated during the whole season in forest ponds. 3. The appearance of first-instar larvae was delayed by 3–4 weeks in forest ponds compared with field ponds. Presumably, low temperatures led to this reduction in the developmental rate of eggs and larvae. Consequently, ‘field larvae’ of the first generation developed under increasing daylight conditions (triggering direct reproduction and brachyptery) but ‘forest larvae’ developed under a shortening photoperiod (triggering diapause and macroptery). 4. Offspring raised from ‘forest parents’ in the laboratory showed the same variability in life history when reared in a cool (16.9 ± 2.4 °C) or warm (23.1 ± 1.8 °C) temperature regime. 5. Given the small spatial scale of the study, it is concluded that the variability in the life history of G. lacustris has a strong phenotypic component.
• The influence of soil temperature on the nesting cycle of the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum Weissel, N.; Mitesser, O.; Liebig, J.; Poethke, H.-J.; Strohm, E. in Insectes Sociaux (2006). 53(4) 390–398.
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  @article{weissel_influence_2006, abstract = {.The physiology and behavior of ectothermic organisms is strongly influenced by temperature. For ground nesting species like the primitively eusocial halictid bee, Lasioglossum malachurum, soil temperature might influence the life cycle as well as the complexity of the social group since the number of broods that can be fitted into the flight season might increase with increasing temperature. Our study populationof L. malachurum at Wuerzburg exhibits a remarkable variability with respect to the number of broods and the pattern of sexual production. Broods are separated by activity pauses during which the larvae develop. In this study we investigate the influence of soil temperature on the pattern of nesting activity (duration of broods and pauses) and on the number of broods in L. malachurum. We observed a total of 1138 nests in 13 aggregations near Wuerzburg. As expected, soil temperature shortened the duration of the pauses, resulting in an overall shortening of the nesting cycle. This is most probably due to a physiological effect of soil temperature on the development of the larvae. With regard to the nesting strategies, we hypothesized that a shortening of the nesting cycle within the limited flight season should enhance the success of a strategy with more worker broods. In fact, patches with higher soil temperature showed more broods. However, this effect was rather weak, suggesting that other factors might have a stronger impact on the variability in nesting strategy within our study population of L. malachurum.}, author = {Weissel, N. and Mitesser, O. and Liebig, J. and Poethke, H.-J. and Strohm, E.}, journal = {Insectes Sociaux}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {nov}, number = 4, pages = {390–398}, title = {The influence of soil temperature on the nesting cycle of the halictid bee {Lasioglossum} malachurum}, volume = 53, year = 2006 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 weissel_influence_2006 %A Weissel, N. %A Mitesser, O. %A Liebig, J. %A Poethke, H.-J. %A Strohm, E. %D 2006 %J Insectes Sociaux %N 4 %P 390--398 %R 10.1007/s00040-005-0884-7 %T The influence of soil temperature on the nesting cycle of the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00040-005-0884-7 %V 53 %X .The physiology and behavior of ectothermic organisms is strongly influenced by temperature. For ground nesting species like the primitively eusocial halictid bee, Lasioglossum malachurum, soil temperature might influence the life cycle as well as the complexity of the social group since the number of broods that can be fitted into the flight season might increase with increasing temperature. Our study populationof L. malachurum at Wuerzburg exhibits a remarkable variability with respect to the number of broods and the pattern of sexual production. Broods are separated by activity pauses during which the larvae develop. In this study we investigate the influence of soil temperature on the pattern of nesting activity (duration of broods and pauses) and on the number of broods in L. malachurum. We observed a total of 1138 nests in 13 aggregations near Wuerzburg. As expected, soil temperature shortened the duration of the pauses, resulting in an overall shortening of the nesting cycle. This is most probably due to a physiological effect of soil temperature on the development of the larvae. With regard to the nesting strategies, we hypothesized that a shortening of the nesting cycle within the limited flight season should enhance the success of a strategy with more worker broods. In fact, patches with higher soil temperature showed more broods. However, this effect was rather weak, suggesting that other factors might have a stronger impact on the variability in nesting strategy within our study population of L. malachurum.

• Selection of large host plants for oviposition by a monophagous leaf beetle: nutritional quality or enemy-free space? Heisswolf, Annette; Obermaier, Elisabeth; Poethke, Hans Joachim in Ecological Entomology (2005). 30(3) 299–306.
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  @article{heisswolf_selection_2005, abstract = {Abstract.  1. Oviposition site selection is crucial for the reproductive success of herbivorous insects. According to the preference–performance hypothesis, females should oviposit on host plants that enhance the performance of their offspring. More specifically, the plant vigour hypothesis predicts that females should prefer large and vigorously growing host plants for oviposition and that larvae should perform best on these plants. 2. The present study examined whether females of the monophagous leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata Laich. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) prefer to oviposit on large host plant individuals of the meadow clary and whether large host plants are of higher nutritional quality than small host plants. Subsequently, it was tested whether the female preference correlates with offspring performance and survival. 3. In the field, females preferred large host plant individuals for oviposition and host plant quality, i.e. leaf nitrogen content, was significantly higher in leaves of large than of small host plants. 4. In the laboratory, larval development time was shorter on leaves of large host plant individuals than on small host plant individuals, but this could not be shown in the field. 5. However, a predator-exclusion experiment in the field resulted in a higher survival of larvae on large host plants than on small host plants when all predators had free access to the plants. On caged host plants there was no difference in survival of larvae between plant size categories. 6. It is concluded that females of C. canaliculata select oviposition sites that enhance both performance and survival of their offspring, which meets the predictions of the plant vigour hypothesis.}, author = {Heisswolf, Annette and Obermaier, Elisabeth and Poethke, Hans Joachim}, journal = {Ecological Entomology}, keywords = {vigour,}, month = {jun}, number = 3, pages = {299–306}, title = {Selection of large host plants for oviposition by a monophagous leaf beetle: nutritional quality or enemy-free space?}, volume = 30, year = 2005 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 heisswolf_selection_2005 %A Heisswolf, Annette %A Obermaier, Elisabeth %A Poethke, Hans Joachim %D 2005 %J Ecological Entomology %N 3 %P 299--306 %R 10.1111/j.0307-6946.2005.00706.x %T Selection of large host plants for oviposition by a monophagous leaf beetle: nutritional quality or enemy-free space? %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0307-6946.2005.00706.x/abstract %V 30 %X Abstract.  1. Oviposition site selection is crucial for the reproductive success of herbivorous insects. According to the preference–performance hypothesis, females should oviposit on host plants that enhance the performance of their offspring. More specifically, the plant vigour hypothesis predicts that females should prefer large and vigorously growing host plants for oviposition and that larvae should perform best on these plants. 2. The present study examined whether females of the monophagous leaf beetle Cassida canaliculata Laich. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) prefer to oviposit on large host plant individuals of the meadow clary and whether large host plants are of higher nutritional quality than small host plants. Subsequently, it was tested whether the female preference correlates with offspring performance and survival. 3. In the field, females preferred large host plant individuals for oviposition and host plant quality, i.e. leaf nitrogen content, was significantly higher in leaves of large than of small host plants. 4. In the laboratory, larval development time was shorter on leaves of large host plant individuals than on small host plant individuals, but this could not be shown in the field. 5. However, a predator-exclusion experiment in the field resulted in a higher survival of larvae on large host plants than on small host plants when all predators had free access to the plants. On caged host plants there was no difference in survival of larvae between plant size categories. 6. It is concluded that females of C. canaliculata select oviposition sites that enhance both performance and survival of their offspring, which meets the predictions of the plant vigour hypothesis.

• Queen lifespan and colony longevity in the ant Harpegnathos saltator Liebig, Jürgen; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Ecological Entomology (2004). 29(2) 203–207.
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  @article{liebig_queen_2004, abstract = {Abstract.  1. The longevity of field colonies was investigated in the ponerine ant Harpegnathos saltator (Jerdon) in which either reproductive workers (gamergates) or a single queen reproduce. 2. Data from 3 years were used to calculate the ratio between queen-right (n = 50) and gamergate (n = 12) colonies that can be used to derive the colony mortality of gamergate colonies. Using the survival rates of queens in the laboratory, extrinsic and intrinsic mortality rates of queen-right colonies were calculated. 3. No significant differences in the sizes of queen-right and gamergate colonies above 14 workers was found, suggesting that mortality of established colonies is not size related. 4. The mortality of gamergate colonies is 4.17 times higher than the intrinsic mortality of queen-right colonies. 5. In the laboratory, mean survival time of queens in colonies of more than 14 workers was 1.79 years. 6. Estimated mean survival time of queen-right and gamergate colonies in the field varies between 0.78 and 0.43 years respectively, when no costs of conflict during the replacement of queens occur; however, when the latter costs increase colony mortality to a level similar to extrinsic mortality, the calculated longevity of queen-right colonies would increase to 1.02 years.}, author = {Liebig, Jürgen and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Ecological Entomology}, keywords = {social}, month = {apr}, number = 2, pages = {203–207}, title = {Queen lifespan and colony longevity in the ant {Harpegnathos} saltator}, volume = 29, year = 2004 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 liebig_queen_2004 %A Liebig, Jürgen %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2004 %J Ecological Entomology %N 2 %P 203--207 %R 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2004.00583.x %T Queen lifespan and colony longevity in the ant Harpegnathos saltator %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2311.2004.00583.x/abstract %V 29 %X Abstract.  1. The longevity of field colonies was investigated in the ponerine ant Harpegnathos saltator (Jerdon) in which either reproductive workers (gamergates) or a single queen reproduce. 2. Data from 3 years were used to calculate the ratio between queen-right (n = 50) and gamergate (n = 12) colonies that can be used to derive the colony mortality of gamergate colonies. Using the survival rates of queens in the laboratory, extrinsic and intrinsic mortality rates of queen-right colonies were calculated. 3. No significant differences in the sizes of queen-right and gamergate colonies above 14 workers was found, suggesting that mortality of established colonies is not size related. 4. The mortality of gamergate colonies is 4.17 times higher than the intrinsic mortality of queen-right colonies. 5. In the laboratory, mean survival time of queens in colonies of more than 14 workers was 1.79 years. 6. Estimated mean survival time of queen-right and gamergate colonies in the field varies between 0.78 and 0.43 years respectively, when no costs of conflict during the replacement of queens occur; however, when the latter costs increase colony mortality to a level similar to extrinsic mortality, the calculated longevity of queen-right colonies would increase to 1.02 years.

• Local extinction and the evolution of dispersal rates: Causes and correlations Poethke, H. J.; Hovestadt, T.; Mitesser, O. in American Naturalist (2003). 161(4) 631–640.
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  @article{poethke_local_2003, abstract = {We present the results of individual-based simulation experiments on the evolution of dispersal rates of organisms living in metapopulations. We find conflicting results regarding the relationship between local extinction rate and evolutionarily stable (ES) dispersal rate depending on which principal mechanism causes extinction: if extinction is caused by environmental catastrophes eradicating local populations, we observe a positive correlation between extinction and ES dispersal rate; if extinction is a consequence of stochastic local dynamics and environmental fluctuations, the correlation becomes ambiguous; and in cases where extinction is caused by dispersal mortality, a negative correlation between local extinction rate and ES dispersal rate emerges. We conclude that extinction rate, which both affects and is affected by dispersal rates, is not an ideal predictor for optimal dispersal rates.}, author = {Poethke, H. J. and Hovestadt, T. and Mitesser, O.}, journal = {American Naturalist}, keywords = {olivervinzenzmitesser}, month = {apr}, note = {WOS:000182159800009}, number = 4, pages = {631–640}, title = {Local extinction and the evolution of dispersal rates: {Causes} and correlations}, volume = 161, year = 2003 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 poethke_local_2003 %A Poethke, H. J. %A Hovestadt, T. %A Mitesser, O. %D 2003 %J American Naturalist %N 4 %P 631--640 %R 10.1086/368224 %T Local extinction and the evolution of dispersal rates: Causes and correlations %V 161 %X We present the results of individual-based simulation experiments on the evolution of dispersal rates of organisms living in metapopulations. We find conflicting results regarding the relationship between local extinction rate and evolutionarily stable (ES) dispersal rate depending on which principal mechanism causes extinction: if extinction is caused by environmental catastrophes eradicating local populations, we observe a positive correlation between extinction and ES dispersal rate; if extinction is a consequence of stochastic local dynamics and environmental fluctuations, the correlation becomes ambiguous; and in cases where extinction is caused by dispersal mortality, a negative correlation between local extinction rate and ES dispersal rate emerges. We conclude that extinction rate, which both affects and is affected by dispersal rates, is not an ideal predictor for optimal dispersal rates.

• Co-evolution between ectoparasites and their insect hosts: a simulation study of a damselfly–water mite interaction Rolff, Jens; Vogel, Christine; Poethke, Hans-Joachim in Ecological Entomology (2001). 26(6) 638–645.
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  @article{rolff_co-evolution_2001, abstract = {1. A simulation model investigating the co-evolution of water mites infesting their aquatic insect hosts during emergence is presented. The model is based on field and experimental studies of the ectoparasitic water mite Arrenurus cuspidator and the damselfly Coenagrion puella. 2. Three scenarios were studied: (1) Only the host was allowed to evolve timing of emergence, while the timing of the parasites' infestation opportunity was held constant. (2) Both host and parasite were allowed to evolve. (3) Only the parasite's timing was allowed to evolve, while the host was constrained completely. 3. In the first two scenarios, parasite abundances decreased in the course of evolution and reached values well below those found in the field, whereas in the third scenario, parasite abundances were maintained at a level close to that found in the field. In the second scenario (co-evolution), the host seemed to be the leader in the evolutionary race. 4. It is concluded that water mite parasitism is capable of shaping emergence patterns in aquatic insects and, despite the same life-cycle length for host and parasite, the parasite evolves fast enough to shape its hatching pattern to match the emergence pattern of its host.}, author = {Rolff, Jens and Vogel, Christine and Poethke, Hans-Joachim}, journal = {Ecological Entomology}, keywords = {puella,}, month = {dec}, number = 6, pages = {638–645}, title = {Co-evolution between ectoparasites and their insect hosts: a simulation study of a damselfly–water mite interaction}, volume = 26, year = 2001 }

  %0 Journal Article %1 rolff_co-evolution_2001 %A Rolff, Jens %A Vogel, Christine %A Poethke, Hans-Joachim %D 2001 %J Ecological Entomology %N 6 %P 638--645 %R 10.1046/j.1365-2311.2001.00360.x %T Co-evolution between ectoparasites and their insect hosts: a simulation study of a damselfly–water mite interaction %U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2311.2001.00360.x/abstract %V 26 %X 1. A simulation model investigating the co-evolution of water mites infesting their aquatic insect hosts during emergence is presented. The model is based on field and experimental studies of the ectoparasitic water mite Arrenurus cuspidator and the damselfly Coenagrion puella. 2. Three scenarios were studied: (1) Only the host was allowed to evolve timing of emergence, while the timing of the parasites' infestation opportunity was held constant. (2) Both host and parasite were allowed to evolve. (3) Only the parasite's timing was allowed to evolve, while the host was constrained completely. 3. In the first two scenarios, parasite abundances decreased in the course of evolution and reached values well below those found in the field, whereas in the third scenario, parasite abundances were maintained at a level close to that found in the field. In the second scenario (co-evolution), the host seemed to be the leader in the evolutionary race. 4. It is concluded that water mite parasitism is capable of shaping emergence patterns in aquatic insects and, despite the same life-cycle length for host and parasite, the parasite evolves fast enough to shape its hatching pattern to match the emergence pattern of its host.